From body invasion Alien-style to hallucinogenic poisons and limpet mines, fungi have astonishingly creative ways of dispatching their foes
White muscardine (Beauveria bassiana)
POACHER TURNED GAMEKEEPER
A deadly attacker of commercial silkworm cultures, this fungus absorbs water and nutrients from its host, causing its body to harden and the wings to drop off adult specimens. The fungus then emerges as a fine white powder of spores that can infect other insects. In natural environments the white muscardine probably helps to control silkworm populations, preventing large-scale defoliation of mulberry trees. It has also been harnessed as a bio-insecticide to control pests such as whiteflies and termites. It is seen here on the surface of a mosquito larva.
Birch maze gill (Lenzites betulina)
SEARCH AND DESTROY
This uncommon parasite of the very common wood-eating turkey tail fungus (Trametes versicolor) kills its victim, occupies its territory ...
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