Honeydew Eater
Scorias spongiosa
It is the only known fungus in North America that grows into such massive, spongy structures purely by feeding on insect honeydew.
- Scientific name
- Scorias spongiosa
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Ascomycota › Dothideomycetes › Capnodiales › Capnodiaceae › Scorias
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous forests, specifically on the trunks and branches of American beech trees.
- Diet
- Honeydew excreted by beech blight aphids.
- Range
- Eastern North America
- Size
- Spongy masses up to 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) in diameter.
- Lifespan
- 1 year (annual growth cycle)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Deforestation, loss of American beech trees due to Beech Bark Disease (caused by Neonectria fungi and scale insects).
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. This fungus is safe to touch and observe, though it may leave a soot-like residue on skin. Do not ingest. No special precautions are needed other than respecting the forest habitat.
Scorias spongiosa is a sooty mould fungus that grows on aphid honeydew. It is a member of the Capnodiaceae family of ascomycete fungi. It is found only on American beech trees, Fagus grandifolia .
Photo: Summit Metro Parks, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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