Damon Tighe
@damontighe.bsky.social
Community Scientist with a focus on fungi and a huge iNaturalist addict. Formerly a researcher on the human genome project, single cell sequencing, but now spend most work hours supporting educators in bringing more hands-on biotech into their classrooms
Had a collection of mine get used as a Holotype for the new species Gliophorus calunus this week and oddly what I’m most excited about is my pet field tool ”project” of making UV Fluorescence part of things that help different fungi in the field got coded into this paper. #mycology #Gliophorus
February 6, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Had a collection of mine get used as a Holotype for the new species Gliophorus calunus this week and oddly what I’m most excited about is my pet field tool ”project” of making UV Fluorescence part of things that help different fungi in the field got coded into this paper. #mycology #Gliophorus
While cleaning up mushrooms for dinner I found this fungus gnat, maybe the genus Leia infected with Entomophthora in one of the yellowfeet. One more reason mushrooms are best cooked real real well #fungi #flydeath #mendocino #mycology #macrophotography
January 27, 2026 at 3:19 PM
While cleaning up mushrooms for dinner I found this fungus gnat, maybe the genus Leia infected with Entomophthora in one of the yellowfeet. One more reason mushrooms are best cooked real real well #fungi #flydeath #mendocino #mycology #macrophotography
Coccomyces dentatus seen on the Fungus focused walk I led at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Sunday . The black lines are fight zones between individual fungi and why this species is often called Map Fungus #fungi #Mendocino
January 27, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Coccomyces dentatus seen on the Fungus focused walk I led at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Sunday . The black lines are fight zones between individual fungi and why this species is often called Map Fungus #fungi #Mendocino
after teaching a workshop at WSU Vancouver today I got to enjoy the scale of things the humans I can perceive : from springtails to volcanoes.
#springtaisl #mthood #PNW
#springtaisl #mthood #PNW
January 18, 2026 at 3:49 AM
after teaching a workshop at WSU Vancouver today I got to enjoy the scale of things the humans I can perceive : from springtails to volcanoes.
#springtaisl #mthood #PNW
#springtaisl #mthood #PNW
Found a truffle tonight in a Portland City Park thanks to a slug who was eating it and happened to to glow under UV light.
Tempted to turn them into a truffling slug, not quite as fast as a dog, but a lot lower energy to keep
Tempted to turn them into a truffling slug, not quite as fast as a dog, but a lot lower energy to keep
January 16, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Found a truffle tonight in a Portland City Park thanks to a slug who was eating it and happened to to glow under UV light.
Tempted to turn them into a truffling slug, not quite as fast as a dog, but a lot lower energy to keep
Tempted to turn them into a truffling slug, not quite as fast as a dog, but a lot lower energy to keep
Best find from a Bioblitz today in Marin County: Sarcoleotia cf. globosa. In the family Geoglossaceae.
UVF 365 nm at left with a very interesting red fluorescenc. Rarely seen in California and I’m only aware of 1 sequenced collection, not matching European ones
#Sarcoleotia #mycology #mushroom
UVF 365 nm at left with a very interesting red fluorescenc. Rarely seen in California and I’m only aware of 1 sequenced collection, not matching European ones
#Sarcoleotia #mycology #mushroom
January 12, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Best find from a Bioblitz today in Marin County: Sarcoleotia cf. globosa. In the family Geoglossaceae.
UVF 365 nm at left with a very interesting red fluorescenc. Rarely seen in California and I’m only aware of 1 sequenced collection, not matching European ones
#Sarcoleotia #mycology #mushroom
UVF 365 nm at left with a very interesting red fluorescenc. Rarely seen in California and I’m only aware of 1 sequenced collection, not matching European ones
#Sarcoleotia #mycology #mushroom
I’m not an expert in Lanternflies but this seems like a mess up on common names at Oakland Zoo’s glowfari display - just hoping this doesn’t encourage anyone to attempt getting spotted lanternflies as pets.
January 10, 2026 at 3:08 AM
I’m not an expert in Lanternflies but this seems like a mess up on common names at Oakland Zoo’s glowfari display - just hoping this doesn’t encourage anyone to attempt getting spotted lanternflies as pets.
I still have my qualms with Oakland Zoo, but one is not the art work installation that goes in for their Glowfari event. For the most part amazing artistic renditions of organisms that usually don’t get the lime light. #oakland #glowfari #lightsculptures
January 9, 2026 at 4:59 PM
I still have my qualms with Oakland Zoo, but one is not the art work installation that goes in for their Glowfari event. For the most part amazing artistic renditions of organisms that usually don’t get the lime light. #oakland #glowfari #lightsculptures
Got some excellent side eye tonight while trying to collect Entomophthoraceae in the Oakland hills. Cold yet stern: Ptenothrix beta
I love globular #springtails
I love globular #springtails
January 8, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Got some excellent side eye tonight while trying to collect Entomophthoraceae in the Oakland hills. Cold yet stern: Ptenothrix beta
I love globular #springtails
I love globular #springtails
If you want to see fungi infecting insects in the SF Bay, I think this week is going to be about as good as it gets. I’ve seen lots of infected insects the past few days including these Gibellula that attack spiders
#gibellula #spiders #fungi #oakland
#gibellula #spiders #fungi #oakland
January 7, 2026 at 8:55 AM
If you want to see fungi infecting insects in the SF Bay, I think this week is going to be about as good as it gets. I’ve seen lots of infected insects the past few days including these Gibellula that attack spiders
#gibellula #spiders #fungi #oakland
#gibellula #spiders #fungi #oakland
Reposted by Damon Tighe
I quit my job at #iNaturalist, the product I co-founded. If you'd like me to keep working on natural history software, support me on Patreon: patreon.com/kueda. FWIW, I'm building an iNat backup tool and an app for viewing geologic maps.
Or, if you think you'd like to hire me, get in touch!
Or, if you think you'd like to hire me, get in touch!
Ken-ichi Ueda | Patreon
Natural history software
patreon.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:33 PM
I quit my job at #iNaturalist, the product I co-founded. If you'd like me to keep working on natural history software, support me on Patreon: patreon.com/kueda. FWIW, I'm building an iNat backup tool and an app for viewing geologic maps.
Or, if you think you'd like to hire me, get in touch!
Or, if you think you'd like to hire me, get in touch!
I really enjoy UVF because it’s such a good reminder of how different the world can be with just a little shift in our perspective #fluorescence #UVF #snails #oaklandhills
January 6, 2026 at 4:25 AM
I really enjoy UVF because it’s such a good reminder of how different the world can be with just a little shift in our perspective #fluorescence #UVF #snails #oaklandhills
The recent Bay Nature Magazine with my article on UV Fluorescence is out. It’s full of tips on what habitats and organisms to look at. Big thanks to Editor Kathleen Ok-Soo Richards for helping fine tune the piece since I’m definitely rusty at writing article #Fluorescence #SFBay #UVF
January 3, 2026 at 5:09 PM
The recent Bay Nature Magazine with my article on UV Fluorescence is out. It’s full of tips on what habitats and organisms to look at. Big thanks to Editor Kathleen Ok-Soo Richards for helping fine tune the piece since I’m definitely rusty at writing article #Fluorescence #SFBay #UVF
A few UV fluorescent organisms from an accidental night hike yesterday in the Oakland Hills. I’ll have an article out about UV Fluorescence in the SF Bay Area in the next issue of Bay Nature Magazine. #UVF #fluorescence
January 2, 2026 at 5:45 PM
A few UV fluorescent organisms from an accidental night hike yesterday in the Oakland Hills. I’ll have an article out about UV Fluorescence in the SF Bay Area in the next issue of Bay Nature Magazine. #UVF #fluorescence
Arrhenia "sp-CAO4"
An undescribed blue-green Arrhenia that can be seen in chaparral habitats in California. Known so far from 2 sequenced collections by Stu and myself.It spans from LA to the Bay and likely further.
Saw on a late starting New Year's Day hike in the Oakland Hills. #mushrooms
An undescribed blue-green Arrhenia that can be seen in chaparral habitats in California. Known so far from 2 sequenced collections by Stu and myself.It spans from LA to the Bay and likely further.
Saw on a late starting New Year's Day hike in the Oakland Hills. #mushrooms
January 2, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Arrhenia "sp-CAO4"
An undescribed blue-green Arrhenia that can be seen in chaparral habitats in California. Known so far from 2 sequenced collections by Stu and myself.It spans from LA to the Bay and likely further.
Saw on a late starting New Year's Day hike in the Oakland Hills. #mushrooms
An undescribed blue-green Arrhenia that can be seen in chaparral habitats in California. Known so far from 2 sequenced collections by Stu and myself.It spans from LA to the Bay and likely further.
Saw on a late starting New Year's Day hike in the Oakland Hills. #mushrooms
Exploring the diversity literally outside my door. Found this wonderful springtail, maybe Entomobrya atrocincta, in the leaves decaying next to my front door.
#springtails #urbanBiodiversity
#springtails #urbanBiodiversity
December 30, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Exploring the diversity literally outside my door. Found this wonderful springtail, maybe Entomobrya atrocincta, in the leaves decaying next to my front door.
#springtails #urbanBiodiversity
#springtails #urbanBiodiversity
December 30, 2025 at 4:43 AM
The common garden snail is very impressive under black light. Seen on a neighborhood walk last night #UVfluorescence #snail #glow
December 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The common garden snail is very impressive under black light. Seen on a neighborhood walk last night #UVfluorescence #snail #glow
Was helping out with a Fungal Survey in Big Sur this weekend and instead of getting adequate sleep hiked way down to a -1 tide and found out that amphipods fluoresce very strongly under UV Light (365 nm). #UVfluorescence #glow #UVF #amphipod #science
December 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Was helping out with a Fungal Survey in Big Sur this weekend and instead of getting adequate sleep hiked way down to a -1 tide and found out that amphipods fluoresce very strongly under UV Light (365 nm). #UVfluorescence #glow #UVF #amphipod #science
Cystolepiota from this week’s Fungal Diversity Survey #FUNDIS collection trip in Big Sur’s Eastern Range.
#mushroom #fungi #mycology #fungalfriends #🍄 #cystolepiota
#mushroom #fungi #mycology #fungalfriends #🍄 #cystolepiota
December 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Cystolepiota from this week’s Fungal Diversity Survey #FUNDIS collection trip in Big Sur’s Eastern Range.
#mushroom #fungi #mycology #fungalfriends #🍄 #cystolepiota
#mushroom #fungi #mycology #fungalfriends #🍄 #cystolepiota
Deconica cf. inquilina under 365 nm light
Seen in Mendocino County, CA yesterday.
One of the best use cases for UV fluorescence is quickly being able to differentiate mushrooms in the Genus Deconica from other similar looking dark spored fungi that hang out in the same environment #fungi #mushroom
Seen in Mendocino County, CA yesterday.
One of the best use cases for UV fluorescence is quickly being able to differentiate mushrooms in the Genus Deconica from other similar looking dark spored fungi that hang out in the same environment #fungi #mushroom
December 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Gliophorus cf. psittacinus
Based upon current ITS sequences on the west coast of North America we have at least 3 genetically distinct mushrooms going as the "Parrot Mushroom," called so due to its dizzying array of colors from chartreuse to orange to pink. #mushrooms #fungi #fungifriends #mendocino
Based upon current ITS sequences on the west coast of North America we have at least 3 genetically distinct mushrooms going as the "Parrot Mushroom," called so due to its dizzying array of colors from chartreuse to orange to pink. #mushrooms #fungi #fungifriends #mendocino
December 2, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Gliophorus cf. psittacinus
Based upon current ITS sequences on the west coast of North America we have at least 3 genetically distinct mushrooms going as the "Parrot Mushroom," called so due to its dizzying array of colors from chartreuse to orange to pink. #mushrooms #fungi #fungifriends #mendocino
Based upon current ITS sequences on the west coast of North America we have at least 3 genetically distinct mushrooms going as the "Parrot Mushroom," called so due to its dizzying array of colors from chartreuse to orange to pink. #mushrooms #fungi #fungifriends #mendocino
Chanterelles are still up in Humboldt County and the extra long growing season is resulting in some of the biggest C. formosus I’ve ever encountered #mushrooms #fungi #fungifriends #chanterelles
November 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Chanterelles are still up in Humboldt County and the extra long growing season is resulting in some of the biggest C. formosus I’ve ever encountered #mushrooms #fungi #fungifriends #chanterelles
Found yesterday in the Oakland Hills in half buried and well decayed Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis). This small and widely distributed Sclerotiniacee is easy to miss as they are rarely larger than 0.5 cm #fungi #fungifriends #mushroom #oaklandmushrooms #EBRP
November 27, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Found yesterday in the Oakland Hills in half buried and well decayed Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis). This small and widely distributed Sclerotiniacee is easy to miss as they are rarely larger than 0.5 cm #fungi #fungifriends #mushroom #oaklandmushrooms #EBRP
Cortinarius vanduzerensis
The most impressive slime veil of any mushroom that I am familiar with in California. Why invest so much energy in a slimy cap? Could be the ability to trap arthropods attempting to eat the gills or just a way to deal with rain.
#mushrooms #fungi #mendocino #california
The most impressive slime veil of any mushroom that I am familiar with in California. Why invest so much energy in a slimy cap? Could be the ability to trap arthropods attempting to eat the gills or just a way to deal with rain.
#mushrooms #fungi #mendocino #california
November 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Cortinarius vanduzerensis
The most impressive slime veil of any mushroom that I am familiar with in California. Why invest so much energy in a slimy cap? Could be the ability to trap arthropods attempting to eat the gills or just a way to deal with rain.
#mushrooms #fungi #mendocino #california
The most impressive slime veil of any mushroom that I am familiar with in California. Why invest so much energy in a slimy cap? Could be the ability to trap arthropods attempting to eat the gills or just a way to deal with rain.
#mushrooms #fungi #mendocino #california