The spores of some fungi can linger in the environment for months or years just waiting for something to spread them elsewhere, like a gust of wind, falling rain or a passing insect or animal. Not so ...

The larvae feed on plant remains in the soil and on the fungal cells that break them down. It takes them more than 20 days to develop into adult gnats. "The larvae thrive best in moist soil. The more ...

The Cordyceps fungus has evolved a terrifying ability to hijack the bodies of insects – but it's also being studied for an impressive range of potential medicinal effects. Researchers have found a way ...

As periodical cicadas emerge from the ground across the eastern U.S., some might be infected by a bizarre parasitic fungus that hijacks the brains of the insects, manipulating them so that they try ...

Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto. The much ...

Many plants and crops rely on insects to pollinate them so they can reproduce. A new study has shown that several flowering plants from the group Euonymus are pollinated by fungus gnats, a dipteran ...

A fossilized ant and fly preserved in 99-million-year-old amber have revealed one of the oldest known examples of parasitic fungi taking over insect hosts. The fungal growths, protruding from the ...