Synonyms: Aspergillus bellemontii, Aspergillus maximus, Azygites mougeotii, Hildebrandiella echinocarpa, Mucor aspergillus, Mucor capitatoramosus, Mucor dichotomus, Mucor flavidus, Mucor ramosus, Mucor rufus, Mucor syzygites, Nematogonum fumosum, Nematogonum simplex, Sporodinia argentinensis, Sporodinia argentiniensis, Sporodinia aspergillus, Sporodinia bellemontii, Sporodinia dichotoma, Sporodinia flavida, Sporodinia grandis, Sporodinia megalocarpus, Sporodinia pholiotae, Sporodinia rufa, Stilbodendrum nodosum, Stilbum nodosum, Syzygites ampelinus, Syzygites aspergillus, Syzygites echinocarpus, Syzygites grandis.
Syzygites megalocarpus is a species of fungus in the phylum Zygomycota that infects insects, particularly flies. In East and Central Texas, it has been found to parasitize houseflies and other muscoid flies, with infections typically occurring in the summer and early fall months. The fungus grows externally on the fly's body, eventually killing the host and producing a large, orange-brown sporangium that releases spores to infect other insects.
Mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus growing on a turquoise brittlegill mushroom Russula subgraminicolor in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 29, 2018
Mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on a brittlegill mushroom Russula pectinoides(?) on floodplain on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville. Texas, July 7, 2018
Mold like fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on a milkcap mushroom in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, November 23, 2018
Mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on a pink brittlegill mushroom (Russula) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 27, 2019
Pink brittlegill mushrooms (Russula) with mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 27, 2019
Blue-green cracking Russula mushrooms (Russula parvovirescens) with mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 16, 2021
Small dark trumpet mushrooms Pseudocraterellus undulatus (P. sinuosus) or may be P. subundulatus or Crat. calyculus/hesleri/carolinensis together with mold Syzygites megalocarpus(?) on gravel behind a park bench in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 20, 2021
Web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus (Mucorales, Zygomycetes) on a cap of Macrolepiota mushroom in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 12, 2021
Filamentous appearance of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on a cap of Macrolepiota mushroom in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 12, 2021
Filaments of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on a cap of Macrolepiota mushroom in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 12, 2021
Web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on Amanita mushroom in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022
Filaments of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus (Mucorales, Zygomycetes) on Amanita mushroom in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022
Filaments of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus from Amanita under a microscope at low magnification, collected in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022
Filaments and spores(?) of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus from Amanita under a microscope, collected in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022
Entangled filaments of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus from Amanita under a microscope, collected in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022
Details of filaments of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus from Amanita under a microscope, collected in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2022
Mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus(?) on some mushroom on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, August 28, 2022
Close-up of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 14, 2022
Web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on Lactarius(?) mushroom on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 14, 2022
Filaments of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on Lactarius(?) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 14, 2022
Yellow web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on Lactarius(?) mushroom on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 14, 2022
Close-up of filaments of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on Lactarius(?) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 14, 2022
Web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on on a bolete, may be T. ballou, on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 18, 2022
Web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus under a microscope at low magnification, collected on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 18, 2022
Basidia and spores of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus collected on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 18, 2022
Basidia and spores of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus at low magnification, collected on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 18, 2022
Some linear cells of web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus collected on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, September 18, 2022
Mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on remains of Russula or Lactarius on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 28, 2023
Close-up of mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on remains of Russula or Lactarius on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 28, 2023
Tissues under a microscope of mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus collected in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, October 28, 2023
Yellow web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on a mushroom on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, September 13, 2025
Close-up of yellow web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on a mushroom on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, September 13, 2025
Yellow web mold fungus Syzygites megalocarpus on some mushroom on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, September 13, 2025The fungus Syzygites megalocarpus was observed in East and Central Texas over a period of five years (2018-2023). It was found growing on various mushroom species, including Russula, Lactarius, Amanita, and Macrolepiota, in locations such as Lick Creek Park and Sam Houston National Forest. The observations included photographs of the fungus under a microscope, showing its filamentous appearance and spores. The fungus was often seen entangled with the host mushroom's cap or gills. The observations suggest that Syzygites megalocarpus is a common and widespread species in the region, able to infect a range of mushroom hosts. The data provides valuable information on the distribution, habitat, and host range of this fungus in East and Central Texas. Overall, the observations contribute to our understanding of the ecology and biology of Syzygites megalocarpus.
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