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The domestic dung beetle is a representative of the Psatyrellaceae family, the genus Coprinellus or Dung beetle. The only synonym for the name of this species is the ancient Greek term Coprinus domesticus.
Where does the dung beetle grow?
The optimal time for fruiting is from May to September. In most cases, it grows on or near stumps, small fallen branches, and dead, rotting trunks of deciduous trees. Preference is given to aspen and birch trees. Sometimes this specimen can be found nearby wooden buildings. As a rule, these mushrooms grow one at a time, in rare cases they are combined into small groups. They are quite rare in nature.
What does a domestic dung beetle look like?
The fruiting body of the dung beetle is presented in the form of a cap and a stalk with the following characteristics.
- At the initial stage of development, the cap has an ellipsoid or ovoid shape. As it matures, it becomes bell-shaped, and after some time it becomes half-prostrate with a clearly noticeable tubercle in the middle. Depending on the shape, the size of the cap varies from 2.5 to 6.5 cm in diameter. The skin is light ocher or brown with a darker spot located in the center. The young cap of this specimen is covered with a granular, fine white coating, which disappears in adulthood. On its inner side there are thin, frequent, wide and white plates, which over time change their color to a brown or dark brown tone with light specks. Spore powder is black.
- The leg is cylindrical, thickened at the base, the length of which is 4-8 cm, and the thickness in diameter is about 5 mm. The inside is hollow, fragile, smooth, white or cream in color. The base is swollen, covered with a yellowish-brown coating consisting of vegetative mycelial hyphae (ozonium).
- The spores are bean-shaped, cylindrical, smooth, dark brown or black in color.
- The pulp is thin, fibrous in the stem, and elastic in the cap. It is painted white and has no distinct odor.
The main differences between an old mushroom and a young one are the following: black plates, the prostrate shape of the cap, the absence or rare arrangement of flake-like scales on the surface.
Is it possible to eat dung beetle?
This specimen is not recommended for use as food, as it is classified as an inedible mushroom. There is no information about its toxicity.Due to the small size of the fruiting body, as well as for a number of other reasons, it is not of particular value in cooking.
Similar species
The most similar species is a member of the same family as the specimen in question, called the flickering dung beetle.
This mushroom at the initial stage has an ovoid cap, later it becomes bell-shaped and then prostrate. On the inner side there are dense and white plates, which begin to darken with age. Black spore powder. Thus, this species is similar to the domestic dung beetle in many respects. However, the distinctive feature is the small size of the twin's fruiting body, and on the surface of the cap there are shiny scales that are easily washed off under running water. In addition, this variety lacks the mycelium on the rusty-brown stalk, which is characteristic of the dung beetle. Despite the fact that the double is an edible mushroom, it is not endowed with canceled taste qualities.
Conclusion
The dung beetle is one of the rarest mushrooms of the Psatirelaceae family. It tends to grow singly or in small groups on stumps or rotten deciduous trees. Thus, this specimen can be found not only in the forest, but also outside it, for example, in a park or near wooden buildings. Having noticed this specimen, do not forget that it belongs to the category of inedible mushrooms.
