February Mushroom of the Month: Ganoderma Applanatum
Once considered a ubiquitous fungus in the Chicagoland area, Ganoderma applanatum (also known as Artist’s Conk) has been in noticeable decline in our area over recent years. Not only is it collected for artistic purposes, but it’s also considered by many to be medicinal. We are noticing a huge decline of G. applanatum in public forests due to it being over-harvested (often illegally) for sales on online platforms. With uncultivated perennials like these, we also see the trendy marketing term “sustainably harvested” often used loosely. Artist’s Conks seem to have become easier to find on online sales platforms such as Etsy and Facebook Marketplace than in our local woods.
Why is this important?
Not only does this saprophytic fungus decompose wood, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem to create new life, it also serves as a microhabitat for various fungi-associated organisms, including insects. One little local creature in particular relies specifically on Ganoderma applanatum for their entire life cycle, Bolitotherus cornutus, commonly known as the Forked Fungus Beetle. This specialized species literally depends on the structure of G. applanatum for their survival, living almost exclusively on large, established fruiting bodies of the fungus. These beetles eat, mate and lay their eggs in the mature shelves of the fungus, where larvae then feed and develop. The fungus provides both shelter and sustenance throughout the beetle's entire life cycle. Because Bolitotherus cornutus depends on such an ecological niche, its survival depends heavily on the availability and stability of G. applanatum. Since these fungi grow slowly and persist for many years, over-harvesting depletes habitat faster than it can regenerate, leading to a decline in the beetle population.
“Who cares, they’re just bugs!?” you say? And you call yourself an outdoors person! Mushrooms and fungi are not just here for human benefit--their use as habitat, nourishment, and shelter contributes to a vast number of species. Insects, such as the Forked Fungus Beetle, play an integral role in our ecosystem. Not only do they enrich soil by ingesting the fruiting bodies of fungi, but they also serve as a food source to other creatures such as birds, reptiles and amphibians. And in turn, those animals serve as food sources for others in the chain of ecology... and life continues. Like any species, these beetles' decline has a cascading effect on the broader ecosystem.
So next time you see an Artist’s Conk, think twice about breaking it off from the tree and instead, look closely to see if a family of Forked Fungus Beetles have set up their homestead!
Photo and text by IMA President Liz Weinstein
