This Mushroom Fakes Its Own Death To Trick Flies | Deep Look
Ғылым және технология
The cage fungus looks and smells like decaying meat - on purpose. Its goopy lattice gives off a rotten odor that attracts flies, which help spread its spores far and wide. It's like a bee to a flower, but way more macabre and putrid.
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Cage fungus gets its name from the shape of its spongy lattice-shaped mushroom. “It's this kind of red-orange geodesic dome,” says naturalist Damon Tighe. “They can get up to the size of a softball and they're open on the inside where they've got this sticky, gooey substance called gleba.”
The gleba contains the fungus’ reproductive spores and it’s the gleba that gives the mushroom its fetid aroma.
“It reeks of death,” says Tighe. “If you get up close to it, there are these sharp notes that hit your nose that just make you recoil immediately.”
Flies that normally feed on stinky things like carrion and feces are drawn to the smell. They lap up the gleba, inadvertently downing millions of the spores and spreading them far and wide.
--- What is red cage fungus?
Clathrus ruber is a type of stinkhorn mushroom. Like most mushrooms, what you see above ground is only a small percent of the entire organism. Most of it is made up of a network of thin threads called the mycelium. When the conditions are right, the mycelium produces an “egg” that pops up above ground. When it's mature, the lattice structure called a receptacle bursts out from the “egg.”
--- Why do cage fungus smell so bad?
The gleba found on the inside surfaces of the cage fungus fruiting body contains compounds like dimethyl sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. The foul smell attracts flies that spread the fungus’ spores.
--- What do cage fungus eat?
Cage fungus is saprobic, feeding on dead and dying wood. The fungus’ mycelium digest the cellulose in the wood, returning nutrients to the soil.
---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science:
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Пікірлер: 2 300
This is very intriguing! I love the camera work around 4:03. You can see one fungus die, but then one takes it’s place right next to it! That’s awesome! Thanks for the cool information and hard work!
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
You're welcome, Friendlykat!
@reionj8816
2 жыл бұрын
Ikr
@alexojideagu
2 жыл бұрын
That's actually just the fruiting body. The real fungus is underground. Including mushrooms.
@warrenarnold
2 жыл бұрын
@@alexojideagu yea they're the best. 1:00 when the weather is warm and wet, and there is plenty of wood around, the mycelium creates an egg ----- Edit:*pst, i even forgot what we were talking about 🤭ok mycelium ok😆
@Leseulmecsansnom
2 жыл бұрын
Its*
The fungi 🍄 kingdom are just one of the fascinating "out of this world" species to me with both their appearance & crazy abilities.
@cosmopoiesecriandomundos7446
2 жыл бұрын
Fungi are not a species, but many!
@rusty_uzi
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah they are fun guys
@abirmef9510
2 жыл бұрын
Yea totally
@Marcy53Volkswagen
2 жыл бұрын
@@rusty_uzi yes
@aa-ron9485
2 жыл бұрын
@@rusty_uzi They don't leave Mush Room for interpretation
I’ve seen these cage fungi growing in a pile of wood chips. They were so strange and beautiful and bright red. I had to look up what they were. Thanks for doing an episode on them.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
You are welcome Eric.
@erictsai9378
2 жыл бұрын
@Invalid Characters It was subtle scent. It wasn’t overpowering.
@Marzyart
2 жыл бұрын
@@erictsai9378 does it smell bad?
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
You can smell them from many meters away.
@breadgirl9806
2 жыл бұрын
We had a couple growing on the way to the dining hall. And yeah it smells a lot. It kind of smells like walking by decomposing roadkill.
Mushrooms actually did wonders in my life. I suffered severe anxiety and mental disorder 18 years ago as a teenage, got diagnosed with OCD. Spent my whole life fighting OCD. Not until my mom recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
@Ronkaja
6 күн бұрын
Congrats on your recovery. Most persons never realizes psilocybin can be used as a miracle medication to save lives. Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death bud, lets be honest here.
@Paul_Michael
6 күн бұрын
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Belgium. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them
@SusanaGomez-mp8sk
6 күн бұрын
YES very sure of Dr.benfungi. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
@Edennnn926
6 күн бұрын
100% agree I used to have Psychosis and paranoid thoughts like "people thinking about me talking about me etc. Very odd behavior after getting off Adderall from 7-16. Antidepressants at 18-29. 31 now. I took way to much, but took about 20g of Gold caps (Psilocybin containing mushroom) I analyzed my entire life. The emotions that came out helped me understand behavior etc more. Wont ever need to do it again because I'm happy and contempt forever, but I wish more people did this to alter their perception of reality. Would help with healing much trauma
@Wimruther-hk4zn
6 күн бұрын
How do I reach out to him? Is he on insta
Imagine having no idea what these are, smelling something rotten while traveling through the woods, and then finding some rotten half-decayed flesh orb on the ground
@secondarycontainment4727
4 күн бұрын
As a child, these were in my neighborhood (as it developed and new houses were being built). We called them poopshrooms because of the smell. It wasn't desturbing. Just intruguing to see new things. But then, as a child I had no real idea what was weird or not. I spent all of my days outside diggin around and running through the woods... or climing on the 2x4s of 2-story unfinished houses. I'm sure the construction workers didn't like that we collected all the little flags they used to mark utilities!
0:11 when a League of Legends player walks in
@babamcrib
2 жыл бұрын
Lol
@aceplaysstuff2621
Жыл бұрын
They even hearted the comment Lolll
_"don't worry guys, I am totally not alive"_ -the fungi
@C-ram.
3 ай бұрын
Then how are you talking?
@karilizard36
3 ай бұрын
Good question how are you talking? - a random fly
@some_european
3 ай бұрын
@@karilizard36 telekinesis *_*blows you up with mind*_*
@karilizard36
3 ай бұрын
@@some_european *aaaaaah*
@icantthinkofanyhandles
2 ай бұрын
@@some_european **blows up pancakes with mind**
“What is that terrible smell? It is spoiled fruit? A rotten egg? A dead animal?” No its me I haven’t shower in a while now
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
Eek
We have a few of these in my backyard! They're very fascinating being that it's so distinctive from the typical brown, umbrella-shaped mushroom top. They certainly have a funky smell, very musty. Not horrible, but certainly not pleasant. They've been popping up more recently. Since the video mentioned wood, I'm guessing that it's because we had some trees cut down a while ago; I imagine they're feasting on the rotting roots. I'll have to keep an eye out for those "eggs"! Very interesting!
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
They are very fond of mulch.
@eowynbates9376
2 жыл бұрын
If they start popping up more eggs, you can actually eat them! Apparently they're best pickled. But yeah, they love old stumps and woodchips. They're fairly easy to transplant too, for those of us who enjoy the eggs
@giovannicesaramorim9adigan961
2 жыл бұрын
@@eowynbates9376 Who was the first person that ate it
@eowynbates9376
2 жыл бұрын
@@giovannicesaramorim9adigan961 No clue, but they must have been adventurous! ... Or starving
@explodoboyv2
2 жыл бұрын
@@eowynbates9376 Probably starving.
"Gleba" - that was Emma's first word. "She's gonna be a scientist!" - Ross 😂😂🤣🤣
@remembertosmile1582
3 ай бұрын
😂 Care to explain?🙂
@B_the_MOA
3 ай бұрын
@@remembertosmile1582watch friends
@pointinpolyhedron
3 ай бұрын
@@remembertosmile1582 I am not sure if you asked for real / joked. Anyway, here goes. In the show Friends, Ross and Rachel have a baby called Emma. The baby's first word is Emma and they look it up in a dictionary and realize that its a real word. Immediately Ross says "She's gonna be a scientist" since he is also a scientist.
@sriharshava1665
20 күн бұрын
🤣🤣🤣i was about to type this
3:40 there is a massive spider omg
@lawrence6773
Жыл бұрын
I got my stuff's from online store they got Lsd, Mushroom, Xanax, extascy, chocolate bars and psychedelic products which they also deliver...?...?
@lawrence6773
Жыл бұрын
""""""They're on Instagram and telegram,,,,,,,,
@brakistroier
2 ай бұрын
THE GIANT ENEMY SPIDER
2:01 Ross: Rach, gleba is not a word
@Arberin
3 ай бұрын
I knew I recognized that word from somewhere!
@yooshauabdulla7409
26 күн бұрын
I was looking for this comment lol
I love fungi. They're much more interesting than they appear at first glance, and help our environment a lot.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
We agree!
@imthecoolest50
2 жыл бұрын
I don’t understand how people can love fungi. I know it’s interesting and all but how can you LOVE it
@Patolagos
2 жыл бұрын
@@imthecoolest50 I grew up with the Mario franchise, of course I'm gonna love fungi.
@justadude9849
2 жыл бұрын
@@imthecoolest50 I use em as immunity boosters and antidepressant whats not to love
@-Miss_Lxna-
2 жыл бұрын
True :0 I enjoy learning about these, they are very interesting
2:06 Emma just said "gleba"
POV: some ppl r watching this for a biology class but your not
@1stsarahgamez
25 күн бұрын
Yep
@emilnimer3335
17 күн бұрын
Yes
1:39 i dont even have trypophobia but omg i cant look at that
Omg- I’ve had those growing in front of my house. I thought it was a dead squirrel at first but it was those terrible brain looking things. I’ve tried digging them out multiple time BUT THEY KEPT COMING BACK. It literally look like an egg growing out of the soil. Very terrifying. It was gone as fast as the way they simply showed up.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
They don't last long at all, that's true.
@mellymoko4617
2 жыл бұрын
Do they smell bad?
@livliv2719
2 жыл бұрын
@@mellymoko4617 if they smell bad? they smell like death. Rotten deceased toes. the worse smell you could ever think of haha
@angelinimartini
2 жыл бұрын
Curiously, around where do you live? And they keep coming back how often? Personally I’ve never seen one so I’m super curious especially since you’ve dug them out.
@liyyzzi
2 жыл бұрын
New fear unlocked
"What is that smell? A spoiled fruit? A rotten egg? A dead animal?" Uh, all those things smell vastly different... lol
Very cool video! Thanks for this
you need wayy more subs your work is amazing
Emma’s (daughter of Ross and Rachel) first word was “gleba”. Didn’t realize I’d hear that word again til I watched this video. Thanks Deep Look!
Rachel : Emma just said her first word Ross: What she say? Rachel : She said gleba - Friends
@Lysiasolo
2 жыл бұрын
God I was looking for this comment!!!!🤓 “Our daughter is a genius!”😋
@patricklbn
2 жыл бұрын
came here for this!
@howellkimventosa7697
2 жыл бұрын
OMG i found my people 😂
@andriki88
2 жыл бұрын
I was looking for it I knew I heard Gleba before
@-_ST8RLIGHT_-
2 жыл бұрын
ok
1:35 I’m going to have nightmares tonight
Don't think I've hit subscribe so fast in my life, hella good camera work.
If your were to tell me the Fungi kingdom were actually aliens I would completely believe it. Fungi's life systems are even backwards compared to everyone else, having haploid adult phases with diploid gamete phases.
@TheYeetedMeat
2 жыл бұрын
Even if they were alien-origin, they would be so deeply ingrained that our world would be alien without them!
@onkelpappkov2666
2 жыл бұрын
Fungi: "Did you know there are organisms that use chemically induced contraction of so called muscles around a calcium based endoskeleton to propel themselves through space very fast?" "Stop it." "And they feast on some of us by grinding us to mush before swallowing us into an acid-filled sack that contracts, dissolving and squishing us at the same time." "Mom, Jeff's doing it again!" "Stop talking about mammals, Jeff. They're not real." "Yes, Mrs. Champignon. They are real, Steve, and they procreate by penetrating each others' tissue with a pressurized appendix filled with blood..." "MOM!" "... which is their life juice. They are sticking their life juice into each other." "MOOOM!"
@The_Copper_Element_Itself
2 жыл бұрын
There is a fungus called Devil's hand (or finger i dont remember well) and it is literally the alien egg from alien x predator
@-D.W-
2 жыл бұрын
Partners in time lore
@Dr.HooWho
2 жыл бұрын
But if that's the case then how would you explain why aliens never really made contact directly or something
ive heard of mycelium before, but its weird to think of mushrooms forming from fibrous dirt beings. mother nature is fascinating.
@aaaahhaaa203
2 жыл бұрын
Minecraft mycelium
@SingleIsFreedom
2 жыл бұрын
Fascinating yet eerily beautiful and dangerous
@ferretappreciator
2 жыл бұрын
@@SingleIsFreedom only as dangerous as every other life form
@SingleIsFreedom
2 жыл бұрын
@@ferretappreciator yep
@SingleIsFreedom
2 жыл бұрын
@@ferretappreciator just like how I touched a spider lily a few months ago and 9nly just now learned they were actually Poisonious
Creation takes me breath away.
Amazing how Nature works.
3:51 _Vsauce theme plays_
1:25 Literally a football ball 💀
@shrimpaerospace
2 ай бұрын
sorry for necroposting, but you can just say football
@JoaoPedro-ki7ct
2 ай бұрын
@@shrimpaerospace it's on purpose
2:54 Should have just gotten redbull
Good narration..
The lattice bursting is so freaky I kinda wanna see it used in a zombie movie
2:40 i thought it's a real fly near my ear 😖😶
Amazing video!!
Fly: ohh look a dead mushroom ! Mushroom: SIKE
"Why does the mushroom always get invited to parties?" "Because he's a fun-gi"
Continue to keep us intrigued 😌👌🏼
Fascinating!
One of the greatest duo 👏
Fungi are incredible! I do wonder, what happens to the lattice that has fallen? Does the mushroom reabsorb it? Do other organisms feast on it? A combination of these events, or something else entirely? I guess it is time to study mushrooms, thank you very much for making inspiring videos!
@waterunderthebridge7950
2 жыл бұрын
The above-surface reproductive bodies of fungi are basically what fruit are to plants, so I‘d assume it follows the same process e.g. an apple would take, namely consumption by animals and decomposition after it finished the dissemination of its seeds
@LimeyLassen
2 жыл бұрын
@@waterunderthebridge7950 What animal would willingly eat that thing?
@waterunderthebridge7950
2 жыл бұрын
@@LimeyLassen There’s an entire ecological group of scavenger animals that specialize in eating basically any dead organic material (most often decaying meat though, which this fungus is imitating) including but not limited to all kinds of insects (such as the flies shown in this video), several bird species (vultures, crows etc.) and other opportunists (opossums, hyenas etc.). All in all there’s no shortage of animals that will gladly eat it (having evolved all kinds of resistances/tolerances/immunities against bacteria etc. that may contaminate potential food sources)
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
Good info - thank you!
@daddymao2944
2 жыл бұрын
@@LimeyLassen you're comparing other distinct organisms from your own subjective opinion
Life, as we know it, would not exist without the all-mighty fungi.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
True that.
KZread has been recommending this to me for a long time now. So finally, here we go
3:15 fair
I had dozens of these fungi pop up in my raised vegetable beds this year. I guess because of the wood content of the garden soil I used. So many amazing forms of life on this one planet, Imagine how many there across the universe.
What a beatiful and unique mushroom, shame it took up that role.
Life is unfair.. How come this mushroom can fake its own death, but when I do it I loose everything I have and get sent to prison
This was super informational and great to add to my random facts to impress the ladies....
Absolutely amazing…. It’s evolution and existence are incredible
“I was just saying good night to Emma, and she said her first words!” “What did she say?” “She said gleba!” Friends S09E18
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
HAHA did not know this quote!
Oh yeah these... these used to grow around my grandmother's house and they freaked tf out of me and my mom
Hi Deep Look I love your channel
2:19 i broke my neck
Excellently made documentary. Short,to the point,and highly interesting.
@JV-ll1cu
Жыл бұрын
But the narrative style made it feel like it was made for children
This is cool, thanks.
The narrator voice is so satisfying and make this video presentation more interesting 🤣💖
cool facts i love these science facts about these creatures
Deep Look does it again 🐐 Can we all agree that this is the best nature channel on KZread? Are we all there at this point?
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
*blushes*
That is amazing and awesome!!!
Mycelium❌️ My ceiling✅️
More Fungi please. They are such interesting life forms. Maybe something on Lichen as well.
@Specoups
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah lichen would be fun maybe
* looks at his student loan debt * Never wanted to be a mushroom so badly in my life.
Incredible!
Your voice is amazing
Pumpkin: "My death was greatly exaggerated"
Great episode. Thank you for all your hard work.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
You are welcome!
These are awsome I've seen some at my dad's job
Months later and I’m being recommended a vid about a mushroom, not complaining tho ! Interesting video
Keep up the great work!
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, will do!
Does the consumption of the gliba also promote the flies death? I imagine it to be a good strategy for the fungus, to give the spores covering the dead fly a nutrient rich start.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent questions - we will have to look into it.
@Weromano
2 жыл бұрын
@@KQEDDeepLook You and your Videos are amazing by the way!
@chitinskin9860
2 жыл бұрын
Spoiler if that works in this context: No not normally. Stinkhorns like this red cage have a relationship with insects much like that of flowering plants, it's purely mutualistic. They give the flies and other scavenging arthropods a nutrient rich food source, and the insect scatters the spores around in an area that is already suitable for spore germination (generally, blowflies and the like always hang out around areas that stinkhorns find perfectly hospitable and nutrient rich, both have the same diet of rot), so they have no need to kill them.
@Weromano
2 жыл бұрын
@@chitinskin9860 oh, this makes sense, thx!
@chitinskin9860
2 жыл бұрын
@Exo Spellbreak didn't want to steal their thunder, they said they might look into it.
Another win for the argument for fungi and evolution
Gleba! Makes me think of friends and Emma’s first word hahaha
"What is that terrible smell?" "A spoiled fruit?" "A rotten egg?" "A dead animal?" "A dead body?"
@defenseforceofdisorganizat7245
2 жыл бұрын
A genshin impact player
"I faked my death once. The difference is, my death attracted the pests in my life that wanted my money." An old rich man said.
This fungus has to have come out of a fantasy book
Now I learn something great video
Really love your works Deep Look! Keep it up :D
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much 😀
Finally new video and new topic to learn yay ❤️❤️ 1:43 it's looks like zombie mushroom 💀
@David_Robert
2 жыл бұрын
Hello 👋 how are you doing today?
Flies: You are already dead Plant: UNO REVERSE CARD!
I thought fungus was gonna eat those flies
I love this channel , I get excited every time a new video uploads. I always learn something new 😊🍄🍄
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Amber, we are glad you are here!
These organisms just continue to surprise us each and everyday. Thanks for the incredible data Deeplook 💯❗😁
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
More to come! #inspo
Imagine living your whole life, just to Snell like a dead body.
the fungle that cling
Congratulations on the almost 2M subscribers! You guys definitely earn it! Btw the video was just awesome❤️
Loved the narration and camera work, so artistically it has been presented, looked fascinating and intriguing.
Gleba!! Emma's first word in Friends 🤣
When that fly flew onto the screen, I swat at it thinking it would fly off …
Super Cool! What happens to all the mushroom spores that the fly eats up? Is the only spreading happening through the Gleba sticking to the feet of the flies?
I really love this channel, its so informative thank you:)
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
Our pleasure!
@agamingchannel3706
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you replying means a lot😌
this fungi is very cool, and how it fakes its own death to trick flies. *but i cant unsee it now.*
narration level on par with phenomenon
That was disgustingly beautiful, keep up the brilliant work! Love from India!
The documentary was really interesting, and the narration is really what sold it! Learnt something new today, thank you for sharing!
@KQEDDeepLook
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much! #inspo
I saw this and instantly thought of Praddeling Pate
Stsred seeing and smelling this mushroom in my newly planted flowerbed. 😮
I just found this channel...love your voice keep up the great work 😌
Who else jumped at “Gleba” ! Ross, Rachel was right, Gleba is a word :) well done Emma! 😂
No wonder Mario is addicted to shrooms like a fly
2:07 reminded me of comedy series Friends when Ross and Rachel daughter first word was Gleba.