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The-strange-looking fungus bugs enjoy nothing more than swallowing big mouthfuls of (you guessed it) fungus. Yuk! These well-camouflaged insects crawl in and out of rotting wood in a never-ending search for fungal food. Flat bodies blend into tree bark and help keep these bugs safe from predators while the insects use specialized mouths to suck up their favorite fungi.

Roll Out: Fungus bugs have amazing mouths. Feeding tubes that curl up inside the insects' heads can stretch out for up to three inches-that's six times the length of their bodies. The bugs use them like straws to suck up fungi from deep inside rotting wood.

Shorty: These insects have short legs that allow them to maneuver in tight spaces. Fungus bugs can slip between pieces of loose bark to escape from enemies or gain better access to fungi growing inside a tree trunk.

Perfect Blend[]

Fungus Bugs Back Image

Finding fungus comes easy for this bug.

Lacking any kind of defensive weapons, fungus bugs run a constant risk that predators, such as birds, will swoop down and eat them. These insects fortunately keep a low profile, and total camouflage helps hide them from enemies. Their rough backs are covered with ridges, pits and short spines and match the texture of tree bark; dark patterns on their backs help them blend in even better. If the insects don't move, they're almost impossible to detect.

They're Everywhere: Fungus can grow just about anywhere, and fungus bugs are sure to be there to slurp it up wherever it grows. These insects often stick to trees, but can also be found in woodpiles and under lumps of dead leaves that have been sitting around for a while.

Come Together: As many as 100 fungus bugs will converge to feed on a single cluster of fungus. When they finish, they and several other groups of fungus bugs in the area will swarm together and fly off to find a new food source.

Follow the Fungus[]

The fungus that people can see growing on the outside of a tree is just the tip of the "fungus-berg"- it grows deep into rotting wood in web-like patterns. Fungus bugs unfurl their long, tube-like mouths and thread them into the wood. The bugs slurp up every bit of the fungus as they slowly reel in their feeding tubes, then start over on another line of fungus.

Trivia[]

  • The Fungus Bug featured on the front is possibly a Dysodius lunatus.
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