Cicada vs Fungi

Culinary Historians of Chicago

Cicada vs Fungi Matthew Kasson, PhD Chicago area is three years away from our next cicada invasion. Meanwhile, we can prepare to help scientists study cicada fungi! Matt Kasson and his lab at West Virginia University are studying the Massospora fungus that infects cicadas. Kasson will be givin us the full story of how this fungi is distributed and how it affects these cicadas. When you find one, save it (unused ziplock in freezer), and contact Matt @ [e-mail] or on twitter https://twitter.com/kasson_wvu Dr. Kasson received his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the Pennsylvania State University where his research focused on using a native fungus, Verticillium nonalfalfae, as a biological control of the invasive tree, Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven). He also holds an A.A.S. from Paul Smiths College and a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Maine. IllinoisMyco.org Recorded via Zoom on September 13, 2021