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Sugar icing fungus

Beauveria bassiana

Photo by Dan Doucette
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

This fungi is literally bursting out of the joints of this cicada. It is a pathogenic fungus that attacks and kills cicadas.

Habitat:

tropical rainforest

Notes:

I saw another cicada infected by a fungus and a few robber flies as well.
Tangkoko Batuangus National Park.

Reference Links:

Beauveria bassiana

Species ID Suggestions

Cicada fungus

Massospora sp.

Reference Link
Mark Ridgway
1

Comments (20)
Dan Doucette
Thanks for the additional info kel, I thought it was that too but I think Mark has found it. Thanks Mark and thanks Shanna and Lauren. Chun, I didn't have any black mould on my clothes, but my backpack, sleeping bag, hat, etc. Just not my clothes! Hahaha! But don't worry, nothing from the tropics can survive here, all I have to do is go outside and the cold temps will off it.
LaurenZarate
Poor little thing, but it looks like a birthday cake.
Mark Ridgway
I have one that specialises in Diptera (Entomophthora muscae) and in my wanderings found one that specialises in cicadas - Massospora spp. - here's the US version https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massospora_cicadina
ShannaB
OMG! I was going to ask if it was still alive but you've answered that further down. Scary and macabre, nonetheless.
ChunXingWong
Jolly Ibanez may be right ! Dan, black molds from the tropics are growing on your clothes. I hope you did not bring those back :-)
Sckel
In wikipedia says 'Beauveria bassiana' is the same family that Cordyceps:'Clavicipitaceae. Both belong to different genera: Cordyceps and Beauveria. I have had many Lagria beetles (http://www.cesumar.br/epcc2009/anais/fabio_fermino.pdf) dying with white mold in my backyard, so I researched and found out about Cordyceps bassiana or B. bassiana. See this link: http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/fungi/family/clavicipitaceae/clavi10.htm I'm no expert, I not have more info. I hope someone can help ID.
Dan Doucette
You're right Thomas, after a bit of research and a lead from Sckel (thanks kel!) I don't think it's Cordyceps fungi but another fungi Beauveria bassiana. What do you think? Nope Jolly, hope I didn't bring anything back! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauveria_bassiana
ThomasV.Tittle
The name cordyceps is from the latin words, cord meaning club and ceps meaning head. This doesn't look like a Cordyceps.
Sckel
I have no knowledge about fungi, but in 2013 I found a beetle parasitized by 'Beauveria bassiana'. That does not seem Cordyceps is similar to B. bassiana, a cosmopolitan fungus.
Jolly Ibañez
Nice spotting. I hope you took some precaution not to contaminate your equipment with those spores and bring them with you to Canada.
Dan Doucette
You're right Sergio, my bad. I had it in the wrong mission, I had not joined the other mission yet. It's all good now. Btw, great mission, I certainly have a few more I will be adding to it.
Sergio Monteiro
It is a great spotting, Dan, but I think it would go better in the "Arthropods oarasitised by fungy" mission... :-) http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/115956451
Dan Doucette
Thanks Gilma, but I don't think it was still alive. It wasn't moving at all. Kel, hahaha, good one! It's in my backpack, shhhh.
Sckel
Where did you hide the can of whipped cream?
Dan Doucette
Thanks Cindy, done and done. It was new to me too Chun, then I saw another on the same hike, so maybe it is more common in northeast Sulawesi.
ChunXingWong
That is something new to me. I have never seen fungi parasiting cicadas !
CindyBinghamKeiser
Poor cicada! Great photographs, Dan. There are a couple missions you can add this to: The Hoppers: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8096480 and Arthropods parasitised by fungi: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/115956451

Spotted for Missions

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The Hoppers
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Mission WILD
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Arthropods parasitised by fungi

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Photographed
PublishedMarch 23, 2014

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