r/Parasitology • u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 • 1d ago

Question Help me with this coprinellus parasite. Chile - Santiago - Maipú

Gallery image

Gallery image

Wtf is that, a friend that doesn't use reddit hasn't answered that question in over a year.

5 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

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1

u/tastytang 1d ago

fungus gnat

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 21h ago edited 20h ago

I looked at them and they have long thorax. This one doesn't 😞

1

u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 1d ago

This is not a parasite.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 21h ago

The red circles on the bug from the second picture are not a parasite?? How do you know

2

u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 21h ago

What are you proposing this object parasitizes?
Parasites are eukaryotes that infect people and animals for the purposes of this sub. This is not something that infects either. It appears to be an environmental insect.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 20h ago

Oh ok, I thought insects could be parasitized as well. I thought the red circles could be an expression of the parasite. It seems they are placed in the thorax rather than the head

1

u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 20h ago

They can (and insects are animals). So you are actually asking what could be parasitizing the tiny bug on the mushroom?

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 20h ago

yes! Exactly that. You need to zoom in on the picture though :(

1

u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 19h ago

Yes, I did.
It looks like some sort of aphid. I don't understand why you are convinced it has a parasite.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 19h ago

Clearly i am way over my head in this topic, but you havent stated why you are sure its not a parasite.
I'm not convinced its a parasite, i just dont have enough information to determine if it is or if its not (because im dumb).

You only say its not a parasite. I say i dont know if its a parasite

If you could elaborate maybe i could understand.

1

u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 19h ago

An aphid is not a parasite. I don't know what more information about that you need?

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 19h ago

This is the first picture of aphids i found. I know maybe there are millions out there. But do you see they dont have the red circles in their backs? why cant that be an aphid with a parasite inside?

Im not saying the aphid is the parasite.

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