3 facts
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a parasitic fungus, infects ants and manipulates their behavior, forcing them to climb high plants. Once in position, the fungus bursts from the ant's head, releasing spores to infect more unsuspecting victims below, completing its gruesome life cycle.
Armillaria ostoyae, also known as the "humongous fungus," covers over 2,200 acres in Oregon's Malheur National Forest. Most of its mass is underground, consisting of a vast network of mycelia that decompose wood.
A honey mushroom (Armillaria ostoyae) in Oregon's Malheur National Forest covers 2,200 acres and is estimated to be between 2,400 and 8,650 years old. It is largely underground, making it the largest known organism by area.