Skip to main content
Back to Show
Deep Look

This Mushroom Fakes Its Own Death To Trick Flies

Season 9 Episode 3

The cage fungus looks and smells like decaying meat — on purpose. Its goopy lattice gives off a rotten odor that attracts flies, which help spread its spores far and wide. It’s like a bee to a flower, but way more macabre and putrid.

Support Provided By
Season
The Undying Hydra: A Mini-Monster That Defies Aging
4:52
The hydra, named after a mythical multiheaded monster, may be the secret to eternal youth.
Leaf Miner Fly Babies Scribble All Over Your Salad
4:25
This fly’s larvae tunnel inside greens like arugula and kale, leaving squiggly marks.
Why Did the Mexican Jumping Bean Jump?
4:15
Each seed is home to a head-banging moth larva, trying to survive the Sonoran Desert sun.
Born Pregnant: Aphids Invade With an Onslaught of Clones
5:01
Female aphids are matriarchs of a successful family operation — taking over your garden.
Firebrats and Silverfish Are Rocking Some Old-School Looks
4:36
Firebrats and silverfish are pretty darn similar to some of the earliest insects on Earth.
These Acrobatic Beach Hoppers Shred All Night Long
4:11
After sunset, tiny crustaceans called beach hoppers emerge from sandy underground burrows.
These Mites Rain Down To Save Your Strawberries
4:12
Two tiny mites duke it out on strawberry plants throughout California.
These Silk-Swinging Caterpillars Will Ruin Your Picnic
4:00
California oak moth caterpillars eat all the leaves on an oak. Will the tree survive?
Here’s How That Annoying Fly Dodges Your Swatter
4:33
Don't despair – there *is* a trick to smacking these infuriating insects.
See Sea Slugs Scour Seagrass by the Seashore
4:14
These sea slugs may look lazy, but eelgrass sea hares are actually environmental heroes.
Ever Seen a Starfish Gallop?
4:33
They may look cute and colorful, but starfish are actually voracious predators.
Watch These Peregrine Falcons Become Fierce Parents
5:29
Fallcon stars Annie and Grinnell face the tough demands of raising a family.
Active loading indicator