I've been reading about laboulbeniales fungi, which are a class of fungi that live on the surface of beetles. About 2300 species have been named, and some of them are so specific they only live on one body part of one species.
Here's what a few of them look like (image source):
But also?? Think about the sci-fi potential of a human-equivalent type of fungus! Like you go to the tattoo/piercing/fungus shop and they give you a species that grows on your left shoulder and gives you soft red feathers.
The impact that these fungi have on insects is mostly unknown. What if there are companies advertising fungi that live on your skin and have a mild sedative effect or prevent aging or change your pheremones to make you more attractive. But this is a symbiotic relationship, once you have a fungus it's not so easy to get rid of! And maybe the companies are so focused on selling their product that they're obscuring research studies on the adverse effects. What could go wrong?
