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June 8, 2005
Killer mushrooms
Just when you thought it was safe....more interesting science facts.
There's this fungi Monacrosporium doedycoides which preys on poor innocent little worms (Nemotodes). It's found in soils full of these worms and looks like a monocle on a stick. It has 3 touch-sensitive cells that, when in contact with a worm, constrict like a noose. If that's not bad enough, it immediately penetrates them with it hyphae (stalk-like things) and spills the worms contents everywhere, then sucks it all up.
I plead with all of you...when you next eat a mushroom, show no mercy. Just remember what it did to our friend the worm.
Posted by kat at June 8, 2005 5:32 PM
