ARTHROPODS ATTRACTED TO LUMINOUS FUNGI 
By John Sivinski 
Department of Entomology and Nematology 
University of Florida 
Gainesville, Florida 32611 
Some fungi emit light. Luminescence may be present in mycelia 
[e.g. a number of Mycena species (Wassink 1978)] or in both 
mycelia and fruiting bodies [e.g. North American populations of 
Panellus (= Panus ) stypticus, Buller 1924]. Lights have been 
described as blue, white, or green depending on the species (Buller 
1924, Wassink 1978). Emission intensities vary considerably. In the 
forests of Borneo Mycena (= Poromycena ) manipularis are visible 
at ca. 40 meters (Zahl 1971). An Australian species 1 “pours forth its 
emerald green light” with sufficient intensity to read by (Lauterer 
1900 in Buller 1924). North American forms, such as examined here, 
tend to be dimmer. The eye often requires several minutes of dark 
adaptation before their glows become visible. 
The receiver(s) toward which fungi direct their luminous signals 
are unknown. Lights have been supposed to lure spore dispersing 
insects (Ewart 1906), but such an argument fails to account for 
mycelial lights (Ramsbottom 1953). There has apparently been no 
conjecture on the benefits mycelia accrue by glowing. The different 
environments of mycelia and fruiting bodies make it questionable 
whether their lights are directed at identical receivers or even serve 
similar functions. 
Until this time any proposed reactions of animals to fungal lights 
have been speculative. I here present evidence that certain arthro- 
pods are more likely to be captured in traps baited with light- 
emitting mycelia and fruiting bodies than in controls containing 
fungus-free substrate or dead and dark specimens of luminous 
species. Several possible interactions between fungi and attracted 
arthropods are discussed. 
■Described as Panus incandescens, a name of doubtful taxonomic value (see 
Wassink 1978). 
Manuscript received by editor September 29, 1981. 
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