Microbe of the month
- ARTIS-Micropia
Each month at ARTIS-Micropia, a special microbe is featured. It’s only on display for that month, so be sure not to miss it!
Which microbe is on display this month?
Each month, ARTIS-Micropia showcases a remarkable microbe. Only in November can you see the ghost fungus, Omphalotus nidiformis, an organism that literally glows in the dark.
First discovered in Australia and a source of countless stories, this fungus is famous for something truly extraordinary: bioluminescence. It produces its own light, visible only in complete darkness. No wonder Aboriginal Australians created myths to explain its eerie glow, a luminous fungus at night is hard to forget.
But the light of Omphalotus nidiformis is more than just mysterious: it’s practical. With its gentle glow, the fungus attracts insects that help disperse its spores. In other words, it uses light as a lure to reproduce.
Curious how it works? Visit ARTIS-Micropia this November, stop by the laboratory window, and discover the glowing secrets of this illuminating fungus.