12 x 12 inch print

M is for Massospora Cicadina and Mica Caps

From A Fungus Alphabet Series

M is not for morels because I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE IT, BACK OFF MOREL FANS! M is for mica caps but is also, unfortunately, for Massospora cicadina. Mica caps are tiny and cute and the surfaces of their showy hats are coated in shiny mica-like granules. They’re related to ink caps (letter "I" if you’ve been following along) and like their shaggy cousins they enzymatically party themselves into a black gloop in a fascinating process I don’t really understand, but a word I really love to say: deliquescence! (Aka autodigestion which is more direct but lacks a certain musical quality that “deliquescence” has in spades. Just BUCKETS of musical quality.)

Massospora cicadina on the other hand is neither shiny, nor cute (in my humble, terrified opinion.) It is a deeply upsetting fungal pathogen that only infects periodical cicadas (like the 17 year ones we’re about to be covered in here in Cincinnati.)

Print is a C-Print from Robin Imaging. The C-Print is a high quality, medium priced product printed on satin paper with an Epson S80600 which produces a brighter white and larger color gamut than silver halide paper. Shipping is $10 or local (Cincinnati) pickup available.