That Fungal Glow

By Christina Quick

During a recent mushroom foray with Master Naturalists Mark Bower and Elise Bowsher, I encountered the bitter oysterling, Panellus stipticus. The latter part of the name derives from "styptic," an allusion to the mushroom’s reputed topical use as an astringent.

This inedible saprotroph is also sometimes bioluminescent. As Mark explained, only a few of these mushrooms glow. In fact, most samples found outside of the eastern United States do not have this genetic trait.

The purpose of the occasional bioluminescence is unknown. One hypothesis is that it attracts insects that play a role in spreading spores. Another possibility is that the light wards off certain pests or competing fungi. There are other bioluminescent mushrooms as well, including the jack-o’-lantern (Omphalotus illudens), which is found throughout Missouri.

Much of the fungal world is still shrouded in mystery. Scientists and citizen scientists are continually making new discoveries through initiatives like MycoMap, a North American genetic sequencing survey to which Mark, Elise, and some other members of the Missouri Master Naturalist Springfield Plateau chapter contribute.

A couple of weeks after my introduction to the bitter oysterling, I spotted it again in a different location and took home a stick covered with the little fruiting bodies. To my amazement, an eerie glow became visible soon after I placed the stick in a dark room.

I told Mark about my discovery, and he offered to photograph it for me. A few hours after I handed off the sample to him, Mark emailed two stunning images of the luminous mushrooms.

Glowing Panellus stipticus (M. Bower)

For years, Mark has been studying, photographing, and sharing the strange and beautiful members of kingdom Fungi. An exhibit of his work is on display at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center through the end of November. It features a diverse and colorful array of mushrooms and ethereal slime molds. An accompanying binder offers detailed information about each species.

Mark's exhibit at the Nature Center

After visiting the exhibit in late October, my husband and I went for a walk in the woods. Recent rains had yielded just enough moisture to promote mushroom growth. I quickly spotted oysters, honey mushrooms, and a resinous polypore, all of which I stopped to observe and admire.

The more I learn about these remarkable organisms, the more fascinated I become. Curiosity draws me to moss-covered stream beds and rotting logs in pursuit of fungal secrets. Wherever I go, this wild and wonderful world is hiding in plain sight — living, adapting, and even glowing all around me.

Bird's nest fungus photo on exhibit (M. Bower)

Ramaria coral fungus photo on exhibit (M. Bower)

Barb's Yard

My wife Barbara Kipfer has planted 90+ species of native plants in our quarter acre Springfield yard in the Ravenwood neighborhood, seen at the red spot below.  We are surrounded by lots with close cropped lawns and a few decorative plants, mostly non-native species. After a few years of her tending to the plants, we have had nature move in.  Add a few bird feeders to supplement the insects that are attracted by the plants and we have a private nature center outside our back door.

This drone video demonstrates what a small area the yard covers. Although surrounded by typical urban yards, nature has found a way to find a home in the city.  In addition to squirrels, chipmunks and a rabbit family, skinks and fence lizards patrol our deck and five different butterflies visit in season. We have counted 25 species of birds on our feeders and our species list continues to grow.

This is all my wife's work while I simply fill the bird feeders and enjoy the sights.  If this piques your interest, checkout the Missouri Prairie Foundation's Grow Native website. It is important to get out into nature, but it is also fun to bring nature home to your yard.
 

Mycology Update

In this previous post, our Master Naturalist colleague Mark Bower discussed some new fungal species he had found.  Today he has an update with a lot more finds.

Mark Bowers report:

Here is an update on the fungal census I have been participating in over the past year.  DNA sequencing has dramatically  impacted the world of Mycology in recent years. Previously, fungi were classified based on their macroscopic and microscopic features, their reaction to certain reagents and stimuli, etc.  With the advent of DNA sequencing it has become apparent that previous methods were not adequate in many cases.  There are fungi that look virtually alike but turn out to be only distantly related.  There are others which which look entirely different but turnout to be closely related.  It is a new world in mycology. 

I have collected, photographed, dehydrated and submitted 903 specimens for DNA sequencing, 376 from Bull Creek and 527 from other sites listed below.  

Of the 270 specimens have been evaluated so far 10 have unique DNA sequences and are considered new species which I have discovered.  They have been given provisional names and I will have legal naming rights in time.  Of these new species, 9 are from Bull Creek and one is from another site.  

There are 84 other mushrooms which have been determined to be new species but their DNA matches others which have previously been found by others.  Of these, 52 were found on Bull Creek and 32 on the other sites.  This is a small sample size but it appears that there is something unique about that relatively small Bull Creek area.

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Sites other than Bull Creek include:

• Valley Water Mill
• Fellows Lake
• Bryant Creek state Park 
• Busiek State Park 
• Little Sac River Conservation Area
• Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
• Creve Coeur
• Current River area
• Bennett Springs
• Compton Hollow Conservation area
• Private property of Elise Bowsher 

Update August 25, 2025

The Missouri Mycological Society reports that currently 2,500 specimens have been send for sequencing state wide, with 903 from Mark Bower.  There were 200 unique species with 95 of those from Mark. 

 Megarhyssa

 This fearsome creature was bravely photographed by Chris Barnhart.  It is Megarhyssa macrurus, also known as the long-tailed giant ichneumonid wasp.  They have the longest ovipositor of any insect.  It is deadly....if you happen to be a Pigeon Horntail Tremex, Tremex columba.  Otherwise you have nothing to fear.

Pigeon Horntail-Wikipedia

The Pigeon Horntail  female, bores tunnels into decaying wood.  She uses her ovipositor to deposit two to seven eggs into dead and dying deciduous trees like elm, maple and oak.  The larvae burrow inside and feed on the rotting wood while the female dies.

Meanwhile Wikipedia says "female Megarhyssa macrurus is able to detect these larvae through the bark; they paralyse them and lay their eggs on the living but paralysed larva; within a couple of weeks the Megarhyssa larvae will have consumed their host and pupate, emerging as an adult the following summer."  

This just proves that many species that look dangerous are actually harmless.  That said kiddies, "don't pick up unknown insects with your hands, just like your mommy told you!"

For a deeper dive, check out this link.

Oak Leaf Itch Mite

 

Several days ago I noticed some itching red bumps below my waistline. The itching was mild and only a couple of them developed a white head in the center. Then the next day, this story came out in the NewsLeader.

These are the bites of an Oak Leaf Itch Mite, aka. Pyemotes herfsi.  It has a complex story and we are not their intended prey. They are thought to have originated in Europe, has been recorded from Australia, India, Egypt, Chile and most recently, the United States. According to the Penn State Extension story:

"The first recognition of this mite in the U. S. occurred in Kansas in the autumn of 2004 where it was estimated to have affected around 19,000 people. Since then it has been reported from Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and in 2007, Pennsylvania (Lancaster County)."

These mites feed on many different insects but when running short, they come after us. One of their common victims they feed on are periodical cicada egg nests and this is cicada season as we can hear out in our back yard. The mites proliferate when the cicadas emerge.

Pyemotes herfsi - Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org

Then News-Leader has this gallery of cicada photos.  The mite seen above is virtually invisible to us, measuring 0.2 mm long. More from the News-Leader:

"The species commonly feeds on the larvae of midges or flies that form galls, or growths that develop on plants as a reaction to insects and mites feeding on them, on the edges of pin oak leaves. Once their development is complete, they drop from the tree and can land on (and bite) humans and animals. "

If you start feeling the itch and seeing the bumps, "don't do anything rash."(Sorry about that. ) Aside from the possibility of a secondary infection from scratching, the rash will diminish with time and the cicada season will be over soon.

Life and Death at a Mountain Lake

Master Naturalist roving correspondent - Becky Swearingen)

Every visit I make to Rocky Mountain National Park includes several visits to Lily Lake. This high mountain lake (8931 feet)  has a trail around it that is slightly less than a mile long. Something interesting happens almost every time I visit it. I’ve seen moose, elk, long-tailed weasels, snakes and numerous species of ducks and birds. 

One interesting aspect of this lake is that there is a population of Western Tiger Salamanders (aka Barred Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) that live there.  The interesting thing about these salamanders is that they stay in the paedomorphic stage for their entire lives. That means that they stay in the water and have external gills. 

As with many of the park's fauna, they are being impacted by climate change.  One study done in Yellowstone suggests that as we  get higher temperatures it will cause a rise in the temperature of these high-altitude lakes which will cause the paedomorphic salamander to mature into fully adult Tiger Salamanders and that we may begin to see these adults out of the water in the future years.

For now, though, I always look for these fairly large creatures (up to 14 inches) in the water. Last summer, I got more than I expected when walking the trails. At the water’s edge was a Common Garter Snake that was attempting to swallow a paedomorphic Tiger Salamander. I watched for about 10 minutes and from what I could see no progress was being made swallowing it.  You can see the video at this link.

Above is a picture of a Red Speckled Dun.  While the Tiger Salamander is known for being a voracious predator, it was interesting to see that it is not without its own predator.

"OK,, now what??

Meanwhile this Garter Snake is left deciding what to do next.  Give up or risk a bad case of constipation!

Fritillary Feast at Caterpillar Cafe

 

We are fostering this family of Great Spangled Fritillaries courtesy of Chris and Deb Barnhart.  They are gorging on violets which Barb protected in our rain garden. Barb has also planted 90 species of native plants in our suburban yard. The violets below have now have spread out into the lawn, bringing color as well as food for these cats. You can watch them feast at this Youtube link.

They will soon be graduating to chrysalis stage and then emerge for a debut at the Roston Butterfly House at Close Memorial Park in Springfield Missouri.

More about these fritillaries is at this MDC Link.

This is just one more benefit of planting native species around your home. Barb's 90+ species of native plants on our 1/4 acre lot in Springfield are in the middle of a neighborhood with closely manicured lawns and typical shrubs and plantings. Somehow a variety of species have arrived including skinks, voles, lizards, and chipmunks as well as lots of pollinator species of butterflies and many species of birds. Besides the benefit to wildlife it also bring us pleasure watching them.