Fungal fraud found in South America - 8th March 2021

A South American fungus has been discovered producing fraudulent flowers realistic enough to fool bees and other pollinating insects.

The fungus, called Fusarium xyrophilum, infects the yellow blooming grasses of Xyris in Guyana. The fungus shuts down the plant's ability to create flowers. It then hijacks the plant’s reproductive system to produce its own forgeries made entirely of fungal tissue.

The fraudulent flowers are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. In order to lure bees and other pollinators, the fungus forms petal-like features that reflect ultraviolet light. A fragrance known to attract insects is also produced.

The floral fraud is so convincing that it draws pollinating insects to the phoney flowers. Bees hoping to be rewarded with nectar are instead caked in fungal spores which they unwittingly infect other Xyris plants with.

Fungi often trick insects into helping them reproduce. The leaves of blueberries can be infected by Monilinia fungi, turning them into hoax flowers that also reflect ultraviolet light and release a fragrant scent. The fungus oozes sugar to attract insects that normally pollinate the plants, but instead distribute fungal spores.

So while this type of trickery is not uncommon, it is by far the most advanced fungal imitation known.