Arthrobotrys anchonia or the Nematode killing fungus

While we enjoy looking at the fruiting bodies of fungi, sometimes going on fungi forays to try to learn a bit more about identifying them, there is a darker side to some fungus.

Fungus like Arthrobotrys anchonia need to get some or all of their nutrients from nematodes, which are basically a type of tiny worm. Some types are used in horticulture to control slugs by entering the slugs and releasing a bacteria that kills the slugs. Nematodes also happen to be the most numerous multicelled creature on the planet.

Nematophagous fungus, as they are officially known, specialise in trapping and digesting certain nematodes by using either a passive system, such as a sticky net, or an active system such as lasso-type rings that constrict the nematode as it travels through one or more of these rings. There are around 160 of this type of fungus currently known and it's the constricting rings of the Arthrobotrys anchonia that has gotten me quite excited!

As seen in the image above, the nematode has slipped through two of the rings, but the rings haven't yet enlarged to constrict the nematode. It doesn't need to rush really as it is reported that this only takes 1/10th of a second for the rings to expand and constrict the nematode, as seen in the video from The Private Life of Plants below:

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