Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that has long been used as a direct source of human food. They are also used in the fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Fungi, including mushrooms, are distinct from plants and animals, having diverged from them around one billion years ago. They are characterized by chitin in their cell walls and their ability to acquire food by absorbing dissolved molecules through secretion. While mushrooms are a tasty treat for many humans, they are also enjoyed by snails, insects, beetles, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are mushrooms insects? | No, mushrooms are fungi. |
| Are mushrooms plants? | No, they are genetically more closely related to animals than plants. |
| Are mushrooms tasty to insects? | Yes, some insects eat mushrooms. |
| Are mushrooms poisonous to insects? | Yes, some mushrooms contain poisons that are fatal to insects. |
| Are mushrooms pests? | Yes, mushrooms are pests to crops. |
| Are mushrooms insecticides? | Yes, some fungi are used as biological insecticides. |
| Are mushrooms insect repellents? | The hallucinogenic chemical psilocybin in magic mushrooms may act as a psychedelic insect repellent. |
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What You'll Learn
Insects are attracted to some mushrooms that glow at night
Mushrooms are edible fungi that are grown indoors in a carefully controlled environment. However, they can be breeding grounds for pests that can decimate crops. Flies, such as the Sciarid fly, are one of the most common and damaging insects encountered when growing mushrooms. They are also called fungus gnats and can destroy a fungus crop, leaving mushrooms brown, leathery, and inedible.
Mushrooms that glow in the dark, or bioluminescent fungi, are rare glowing fruiting bodies found all over the world. Over 70 species of mushrooms can glow in the dark due to a chemical reaction involving luciferase and oxygen. The glow helps attract insects that spread mushroom spores. Panellus stipticus is one of the brightest-glowing fungi on Earth. Bioluminescent mushrooms are found across various continents, with species like Mycena luxaeterna found in the rainforests of São Paulo, Brazil, while others, such as Omphalotus olearius, are found across Europe and parts of South Africa.
The bulbous honey fungus is another well-known glowing mushroom, with a famous colony discovered in Michigan in the 1990s. Most of the world's glowing mushrooms belong to the genus Mycena. Mycena chlorophos has a pale-green glow that is visible in its fruiting body and is brightest when it is one day old and the temperature is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is consistent with the subtropical climate of its native Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Brazil.
At night, Panellus pusillus, a fellow bioluminescent member of the Panellus genus, glows like viridescent string lights wrapped around tree branches in the forest. Researchers believe that the biological light emission in fungi serves to attract insects to the mushrooms, where they will pick up fungal spores and disperse them as they fly. The glow of mushrooms is thought to be a spore-dispersal strategy.
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Some insects eat mushrooms
Mushrooms are a delicacy for many insects, which can be a problem for mushroom farmers. Flies, such as the Sciarid fly, are one of the most common and damaging insects encountered when growing mushrooms indoors. These fungus gnats can destroy a crop, leaving mushrooms brown, leathery and inedible. The Cecid fly is another pest that multiplies rapidly under optimal conditions. The Phorid fly, with its creamy-white maggots, will feed on mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi.
Some beetles also enjoy a mushroom meal. The Erotylidae, or pleasing fungus beetles, are small brown beetles with clubbed antennae that use mature mushrooms during their larval and adult stages. They prefer feeding on the fungal spores of Oyster mushrooms or the hyphae of mushrooms with mycorrhizal associations with tree roots, such as the death cap mushroom. The Ciidae, or minute tree-fungus beetles, live in polypores or bracket fungi and can be found on the mini shelves of tree trunks. They "sniff out" the chemicals emitted by the fungi to locate their preferred meal.
Other insects that eat mushrooms include termites, which cultivate a specialised fungus in the genus Termitomyces. The worker termites eat plant matter, producing faecal pellets that the fungus grows into. The immature mushrooms provide a rich source of nutrients for the worker termites to eat. Ants have also been found to harvest mushrooms, with the diet of the Euprenolepis procera species from Southeast Asia consisting almost entirely of mushrooms.
To combat these pests, mushroom farmers can use products such as Safer® Brand Insect Killing Soap Concentrate to weaken an insect’s outer shell. Proper sanitation methods in mushroom farming also require pasteurisation of the soil medium before a fresh crop can be grown, which eliminates many insects and other pests.
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Insects can destroy mushroom crops
Mushrooms are one of the best cash crops for small farms and growing operations to invest in as they develop their business. However, despite the many benefits of growing mushrooms, there are some challenges, and one of the biggest is the threat of insects and pests.
Indeed, insects can destroy mushroom crops, and controlling and eradicating these pests should be a top concern for mushroom growers. Flies, in particular, are a common issue for mushroom farmers. The Sciarid fly, also known as the fungus gnat, is one of the most damaging insects encountered when growing mushrooms indoors. These flies can destroy a fungus crop, leaving mushrooms brown, leathery, and inedible. The Phorid fly is another issue, as these insects will feed on mycelium, and once they transform into flies, they can transmit fungal and bacterial diseases through the crop. The Cecid fly is also a problem, as under optimal conditions, this fly will multiply rapidly, and the larvae, which are white or orange maggots, spread throughout a mushroom farm by sticking to tools and equipment.
To prevent and treat pest infestations, mushroom farmers can employ a variety of strategies. Firstly, proper sanitation methods in mushroom farming require pasteurization of the soil medium before a fresh crop is grown. This process eliminates many insects, nematodes, and other pests by raising the temperature of the compost to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for at least four hours. While pasteurization protects the early growth of mushrooms, it won't stop invaders from outside sources. Therefore, growers should regularly inspect their crops for signs of pests, such as visible insects, eggs, or larvae, as well as physical damage to the mushrooms, such as holes or bite marks. Taking prompt action, such as adjusting humidity levels, removing infected mushrooms, and applying suitable fungicides, can help control and prevent the spread of infestations. Additionally, growers can strategically plant pungent herbs like basil, marigolds, or chives around the mushroom cultivation area to repel certain insect pests by masking the scent of the mushrooms.
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Insects can be repelled by magic mushrooms
Mushrooms are not insects. They are fungi that grow in animal faeces and rotting wood, which are habitats they share with insects. Insects are one of the biggest threats to mushrooms as they feed on them.
However, magic mushrooms, or hallucinogenic mushrooms, contain the chemical psilocybin, which may repel insects. This was discovered by a team of researchers led by Jason Slot at Ohio State University. They compared the genomes of hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic fungi and identified the genes responsible for producing psilocybin.
Psilocybin is known to induce hallucinations in humans, but its function in mushrooms is not well understood. One theory suggests that it may protect the fungi by manipulating insect neurochemistry and acting as a psychedelic repellent. Insects have nervous system receptors similar to those affected by psilocybin in humans, so it is possible that psilocybin changes the way insects think, thus preventing them from eating the mushrooms.
Other theories propose that psilocybin may not directly repel insects but instead influence their behaviour in ways that benefit the fungi. For example, it could deter insects from a shared food source or affect their memory and cognition, making them less likely to remember to feed on the mushrooms.
While the specific effects of psilocybin on insects require further study, the discovery of its potential as a natural insect repellent could lead to the development of new neuro-active drugs.
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Fungi are used as biological pesticides to control insects
Mushrooms are edible fungi that are grown indoors in a carefully controlled environment without sunlight. Fungi, in general, are microorganisms that can be used as biological pesticides to control insects. These are known as entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and are considered environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional pesticides.
Fungi have been used for pest management in crop production. For example, Trichoderma harzianum is used to control plant-parasitic nematodes, and Beauveria bassiana is used to target arthropod pests. These fungi are known to kill pests at high rates in nature and pose little threat to beneficial organisms, including pollinators.
Biological pesticides, or biopesticides, are often effective in small quantities and decompose quickly, reducing the environmental impact compared to conventional pesticides. They can control many different kinds of pests, with each active ingredient targeting specific pests. For example, some fungi control certain weeds, while others kill specific insects.
The use of fungi as biological control agents against insects is an area of modern research to avoid using harmful chemicals. Entomopathogenic fungi are characterised by their wide range of hosts, making them suitable for biological control missions. They are also naturally abundant and involved in numerous environmental interactions.
Fungal pesticides can be an effective tool for managing agricultural pests. However, it is important to carefully follow directions and have knowledge of pest management to use them effectively and safely.
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Frequently asked questions
No, mushrooms are fungi. Fungi are a separate kingdom of organisms, distinct from plants and animals. Fungi include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms.
Yes, some insects eat mushrooms. Insects, snails, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and people all find mushrooms tasty. However, insects and snails avoid eating poisonous mushrooms.
Insects can be pests in mushroom farming. Flies, such as cecid flies, phorid flies, and sciarid flies, are common pests that can damage or destroy mushroom crops.
Mushroom farmers can use biological pesticides, such as entomopathogenic fungi, to control insect pests. Proper sanitation methods, including pasteurization of the soil, can also help eliminate insects and other pests.
