These are a not uncommon sighting in (sub)tropical forest where bamboo is present. The fungus parasitizes white flies and scale insects which feed on the liquid-filled bamboo stalks. Once consumed by the fungus, the insect’s mouth parts are used as a straw through which the same fluids are consumed by the growing fungus, segueing from entomopathogenicity to phytopathogenicity over the course of its life cycle. Genera belonging to this group include Ascopolyporus, Hypocrella and Moelleriella, and are generally poorly understood. See the Neglected Genera of Plant-, Fungal- and Insect-Associated Fungi species list for more examples.

These were scattered but always solitary along young and old bamboo stalks (precise sp. unknown). Every specimen pictured was collected within a 10 meter radius of a single bamboo grove

Substrate: living bamboo

Habitat: Northwest Andean montane forest (NT0145)

Collectors: D. Newman & S. Boden

Collection #: RLC1398

Photomicrography and molecular data forthcoming

or something from the O. unilateralis complex?

This twig seemed to be an ant graveyard. While I didn't find any other whole specimens, I found remnants of previously infected ants along this twig/branch.

Growing along a roadside in gravel, in leaf litter, and on hardwood twigs, a decorticated hardwood log, and on the surface of a partially-buried rock. Near Acer saccharum and Fagus grandifolia. Also growing among Viola sp., against which they were well-camouflaged. Surfaces bruising green. Odor like mice.

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Originally posted to Mushroom Observer on Oct. 4, 2022.

Young adult male (Tyrosinase positive albino?) collected AOR on Hwy 90 3.2 miles W of Brackettville by Cam and Brenda Posey on 6/11/2010 @ 12:50 a.m.

Pattern is consistent with area splendida (I have seen others from Highway 90 in the 1990s) and this type of albino is not represented in L. (g.) splendida in captive snake collections, thus it is not likely an escaped or released pet snake. The specimen was several years under my care (2015-2018) and acted like a wild snake as well (musking frequently even after years in captivity). It is still alive at these additional notes (May 2022) and has been bred by myself (first time in 2016) and Cam Posey producing six heterozygous offspring. None of those have been bred at this time.

Map point is approximate.

Tentative. I think this may be the beginnings of Wrightoporia sp? Wood is not quite as "bubblegum-textured" as some of my previous observations when pulled apart, but it has some of the gauziness/gooeyness that I've experienced with this genus in the past. The dangling gummy pieces were also similar to the observation I linked below. I'll be going back for a closer look today (I was in a bit of a rush and didn't really give this as much attention as I should have). https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68548854