Massospora levispora

Massospora levispora
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Entomophthoromycota
Class:	Entomophthoromycetes
Order:	Entomophthorales
Family:	Entomophthoraceae
Genus:	Massospora
Species:	M. levispora
Binomial name
	Massospora levispora; R.S.Soper

Last updated September 22, 2025

Massospora levispora, which is likely the same species as Massospora platypediae,^[1] is a fungus of the genus Massospora .^[2]^[3]^[1] It is an entomopathogen, or insect pathogen, specifically of cicadas.^[3]^[1] The fungus is known to produce psilocybin.^[2]^[3]^[1] It is one of few known non-mushroom fungi known to produce psilocybin.^[2] Another such fungus may be the lichen Dictyonema huaorani , but this is said to be insufficiently confirmed.^[2]

References

1 2 3 4 Boyce GR, Gluck-Thaler E, Slot JC, Stajich JE, Davis WJ, James TY, Cooley JR, Panaccione DG, Eilenberg J, De Fine Licht HH, Macias AM, Berger MC, Wickert KL, Stauder CM, Spahr EJ, Maust MD, Metheny AM, Simon C, Kritsky G, Hodge KT, Humber RA, Gullion T, Short DP, Kijimoto T, Mozgai D, Arguedas N, Kasson MT (October 2019). "Psychoactive plant- and mushroom-associated alkaloids from two behavior modifying cicada pathogens". Fungal Ecol. 41: 147–164. doi:10.1016/j.funeco.2019.06.002. PMC 6876628 . PMID 31768192.
1 2 3 4 Slot J, Hoffmeister D (June 2025). "Psychedelic fungi". Curr Biol. 35 (11): R513 –R518. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.02.026. PMID 40494306.
1 2 3 Meyer M, Slot J (June 2023). "The evolution and ecology of psilocybin in nature". Fungal Genet Biol. 167 103812. doi:10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103812. PMID 37210028.

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[BoyceGluck-ThalerSlot2019-1] 1 2 3 4 Boyce GR, Gluck-Thaler E, Slot JC, Stajich JE, Davis WJ, James TY, Cooley JR, Panaccione DG, Eilenberg J, De Fine Licht HH, Macias AM, Berger MC, Wickert KL, Stauder CM, Spahr EJ, Maust MD, Metheny AM, Simon C, Kritsky G, Hodge KT, Humber RA, Gullion T, Short DP, Kijimoto T, Mozgai D, Arguedas N, Kasson MT (October 2019). "Psychoactive plant- and mushroom-associated alkaloids from two behavior modifying cicada pathogens". Fungal Ecol. 41: 147–164. doi:10.1016/j.funeco.2019.06.002. PMC 6876628 . PMID 31768192.

[SlotHoffmeister2025-2] 1 2 3 4 Slot J, Hoffmeister D (June 2025). "Psychedelic fungi". Curr Biol. 35 (11): R513 –R518. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.02.026. PMID 40494306.

[MeyerSlot2023-3] 1 2 3 Meyer M, Slot J (June 2023). "The evolution and ecology of psilocybin in nature". Fungal Genet Biol. 167 103812. doi:10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103812. PMID 37210028.

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