• Question: What is the most interesting type of fungi you've found?

    Asked by to Liam on 17 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Liam Harvey

      Liam Harvey answered on 17 Jun 2014:

      Hi bekahclarke,
      I don’t go out and find new fungi myself but my favourite fungi i have come across during research are a large group of fungi referred to as insect pathogenic fungi. That basically just means fungi that can kill insects.

      Some of these fungi actually have mind control properties! i know right awesome/scary! If you search ‘cordyceps and zombie ants’ you will find an article on one of the mind control properties of fungi. The cordyceps fungus makes the ant climb to the tallest, nearest object and once its at its peak makes the ant bite down onto that object, to keep it secure. Once this has happened the fungi grows out of the ants head and discharges its spores down onto other ants to continue the infection process in a new individual!

      Really good question! Thanks!
      Liam

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