October is a fantastic time for fungi. I’ve selected 4 spooky species to get you in the spirit (ha) this Halloween. Now all you need to do is get outside and get spotting!

Our first spooky species is the Blackening Waxcap or Witch’s Hat Fungus, Hygrocybe conica. You can find this fungus on grasslands, in cemeteries and really any patch of short grass. These fungi start a vibrant mixture of yellow, orange, and red but become black over time.

Jelly Ears, Auricularia auricula-judae, are very distinctive. They look just like a human ear growing out of a tree! They are fleshy in colour and have a very satisfying ’sproing’ when you flick them. This fungus grows on rotting trees and particularly likes elder. Look for this fungus in damp woodlands with lots of dead wood.

Cordyceps is the ultimate spooky fungi species. Cordyceps has inspired a myriad of horror stories, films and games including ‘The Last of Us’. But don’t worry, the real Cordyceps is not the stuff of nightmares… unless you’re an insect! All fungi reproduce by spores. These are microscopic bits of genetic information. These spores can enter into insects through their ‘spiracles’. Spiracles are holes in the sides of the insect’s abdomen that oxygen passes through. Once inside, the spore begins to grow root-like structures called ‘hyphae’. Scientists used to think that the hyphae target the nervous ganglia, the brain of the insect. My friends, it’s far worse. The fungus targets the muscles of the insect, not the brain. Cordyceps infiltrates the muscles, using the insect like a puppet, controlling its movements. The insect then buries itself alive, with the fungus inside. The fungus continues to grow and puts out a 'fruiting body' above ground, full of spores. The spores are then released and float away to infect more insects. The worst part? The insect is most likely alive for most of this.