Fungi First
@fungifirst.bsky.social
An unapologetic mycophile wandering the woods of central Appalachia!
No one ever said “I wish my maple had butt rot,” but that won’t stop it from happening! The fungus responsible for this particular butt rot is Kretzschmaria deusta or the brittle cinder fungus! In earlier growth stages you can see a dusty gray mycelium with distinct white borders. #Mushrooms #Fungi
November 30, 2025 at 8:56 PM
No one ever said “I wish my maple had butt rot,” but that won’t stop it from happening! The fungus responsible for this particular butt rot is Kretzschmaria deusta or the brittle cinder fungus! In earlier growth stages you can see a dusty gray mycelium with distinct white borders. #Mushrooms #Fungi
Ok so this is super cool: I found what I thought was the Honeydew Eater fungus (Scorias spongiosa) on woolly alder aphids. However, based on what I read, it seems like Honeydew Eater is specific to the beech blight aphid. So is this a potentially novel Scorias sp.? #FungiFriends
November 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Ok so this is super cool: I found what I thought was the Honeydew Eater fungus (Scorias spongiosa) on woolly alder aphids. However, based on what I read, it seems like Honeydew Eater is specific to the beech blight aphid. So is this a potentially novel Scorias sp.? #FungiFriends
The winter fungi did not disappoint here in the West Virginia Highlands! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
November 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The winter fungi did not disappoint here in the West Virginia Highlands! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
Snow here at 3700 ft (1130 meters) here in the West Virginia Highlands!
November 29, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Snow here at 3700 ft (1130 meters) here in the West Virginia Highlands!
Everyone should enjoy a good late season puffball smashing to help spread the spores, just be sure to avoid inhaling the cloud as doing so can potentially result in something called Lycoperdonosis, a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of large quantities of warty Lycoperdon spores. #Mushrooms
November 26, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Everyone should enjoy a good late season puffball smashing to help spread the spores, just be sure to avoid inhaling the cloud as doing so can potentially result in something called Lycoperdonosis, a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of large quantities of warty Lycoperdon spores. #Mushrooms
After years of searching in the forest, I finally found what appears to be a wild semicolon! #Fungi #Mushrooms
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 AM
After years of searching in the forest, I finally found what appears to be a wild semicolon! #Fungi #Mushrooms
Everyone loves to talk about Mothman, but almost no one including those in the cryptozoology community is willing to talk about the biggest threat to its survival, Akanthomyces, the unapologetic moth-destroying fungus! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
November 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Everyone loves to talk about Mothman, but almost no one including those in the cryptozoology community is willing to talk about the biggest threat to its survival, Akanthomyces, the unapologetic moth-destroying fungus! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
Mycoparasitism starts somewhere, but with Trichoderma, it doesn’t take long before that somewhere is everywhere. #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
November 24, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Mycoparasitism starts somewhere, but with Trichoderma, it doesn’t take long before that somewhere is everywhere. #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
It may be late November here in the north central Appalachians, but that doesn’t stop stinkhorns from stinkhorning!
November 23, 2025 at 10:44 PM
It may be late November here in the north central Appalachians, but that doesn’t stop stinkhorns from stinkhorning!
Though I’ve only encountered it a handful of times, the aborted form of the blushing rosette (Abortiporus biennis) is among my favorite fungi! These coral-like projections are not filled with basidiospores, but instead are filled with ellipsoid to subglobose asexual chlamydospores! #Mushrooms
November 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Though I’ve only encountered it a handful of times, the aborted form of the blushing rosette (Abortiporus biennis) is among my favorite fungi! These coral-like projections are not filled with basidiospores, but instead are filled with ellipsoid to subglobose asexual chlamydospores! #Mushrooms
The woods were appropriately filled with winter chanterelles (Craterellus tubaeformis), Late Oysters (Sarcomyxa serotina), and an inordinate number of decomposing Common Earthballs (Scleroderma citrinum)! #Mushrooms
November 23, 2025 at 12:44 AM
The woods were appropriately filled with winter chanterelles (Craterellus tubaeformis), Late Oysters (Sarcomyxa serotina), and an inordinate number of decomposing Common Earthballs (Scleroderma citrinum)! #Mushrooms
When I went to the woods today, I did not expect to find so many depressed hedgehogs (Hydnum umbilicatum). Needless to say, only the hedgehogs were depressed. #Mushrooms #FungiFirst
November 23, 2025 at 12:20 AM
When I went to the woods today, I did not expect to find so many depressed hedgehogs (Hydnum umbilicatum). Needless to say, only the hedgehogs were depressed. #Mushrooms #FungiFirst
Spotted some lovely looking Stinking Orange Oysters (Phyllotopsis nidulans)! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
November 17, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Spotted some lovely looking Stinking Orange Oysters (Phyllotopsis nidulans)! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
Why grow flowers when you can easily cultivate rosette-like fungal
cultures of Linnemannia sp. from our everyday environment! #FungiFriends
cultures of Linnemannia sp. from our everyday environment! #FungiFriends
October 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Why grow flowers when you can easily cultivate rosette-like fungal
cultures of Linnemannia sp. from our everyday environment! #FungiFriends
cultures of Linnemannia sp. from our everyday environment! #FungiFriends
Encountered so many fungi on our hike in the mountains today! It felt like peak autumn weather today! #mushrooms #fungifriends
October 13, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Encountered so many fungi on our hike in the mountains today! It felt like peak autumn weather today! #mushrooms #fungifriends
The moment right before two polypores kissed! #Mushrooms
October 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The moment right before two polypores kissed! #Mushrooms
Above 4,000 ft elevation, the late fall polypore (Ischnoderma resinosum) is just somehow way more impressive to me! #mushrooms
October 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Above 4,000 ft elevation, the late fall polypore (Ischnoderma resinosum) is just somehow way more impressive to me! #mushrooms
A false chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) growing under red spruce at 4,449 ft (1,356 m) in the north central Appalachians! #Mushrooms
October 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
A false chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca) growing under red spruce at 4,449 ft (1,356 m) in the north central Appalachians! #Mushrooms
A delightful duo: viscid violet cort and dead moll’s fingers! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
October 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
A delightful duo: viscid violet cort and dead moll’s fingers! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
Found this lovely log covered with resinous polypores (Ischnoderma resinosum)! Look at that beautiful guttation! #Mushrooms #FungiFriday
October 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Found this lovely log covered with resinous polypores (Ischnoderma resinosum)! Look at that beautiful guttation! #Mushrooms #FungiFriday
Corn smut caused by the fungus Mycosarcoma maydis forms large galls on infected ears. The infected corn is edible and considered a delicacy, called huitlacoche! #Mushrooms
September 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Corn smut caused by the fungus Mycosarcoma maydis forms large galls on infected ears. The infected corn is edible and considered a delicacy, called huitlacoche! #Mushrooms
Them (proud and smiling): Want to see a photo of my kids?
Me (proud and smiling too): Sure! Want to see a great photo of spring beauty rust fungus?
#Mushrooms #FungiFriends
Me (proud and smiling too): Sure! Want to see a great photo of spring beauty rust fungus?
#Mushrooms #FungiFriends
September 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Them (proud and smiling): Want to see a photo of my kids?
Me (proud and smiling too): Sure! Want to see a great photo of spring beauty rust fungus?
#Mushrooms #FungiFriends
Me (proud and smiling too): Sure! Want to see a great photo of spring beauty rust fungus?
#Mushrooms #FungiFriends
Moldy fruit season is upon us 🧫🍅🍑🍊! Time to celebrate 🥳! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Moldy fruit season is upon us 🧫🍅🍑🍊! Time to celebrate 🥳! #Mushrooms #FungiFriends