Lichen-liking fungus found in Latvia for first time

The species was discovered on large rock lichens by LMB member and nature expert Renāte Kaupuža in September 2026, while preparing for the Ziri Mushroom Festival.

In preparation for the festival, the participants went out into nature to collect materials for the exhibition and to study the diversity of mushrooms and lichens in the area. During one of these surveys, Kaupuža focused on lichens on the Kalnarāji giant rock. Looking closely, she noticed tiny black dots on a lichen of th...