Hackuarium

A soil-dwelling nematophagous (nematode-eating) fungus trapping and consuming a pathogenic nematode. These specialist fungi detect the presence of nematodes in the soil by perceiving the pheromones the microscopic worms use to communicate. The fungi modify their hyphae into hooklike snares to trap and constrict their prey. When the snare is ready, the fungi lure the pathogenic nematodes in by producing olfactory cues that mimic those nematodes use to eat and reproduce. Then the nematode slithers through the snare, and the fungal hyphae constrict, immobilizing the nematode. ​​Sometimes referred to as carnivorous, nematophagous fungi exist in healthy soil ecosystems and provide a vital bio-control against pathogenic nematodes that would otherwise cause significant crop damage. And to think we've only named and described ~2% of the life in the soil...