Should you throw away worms infested mushrooms?

You could find many mushrooms in the forest these days but many of them may “harbour” various bugs so, the question is whether you still may use these mushrooms. The number of worms and bugs is lower in the autumn than in the spring, but sometimes even the “wormy” mushroom look still beautiful and tempting. Can bugs and larvae harm humans? Opinions on worm-infested mushrooms usually vary.

Experienced mushroom pickers cut and “de-worm” mushrooms in the forest

That makes sense because you should leave heavily infested fruiting bodies in the forest. If you have a mushroom that may still be salvaged, cut out the most affected areas immediately. Waste from mushrooms is best left in the forest because it still serves its purpose. If you bring it home and throw it in the garbage then the forest will not benefit.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Worms in mushrooms are not poisonous

These are mostly larvae of Arachnocampa lupinosa – the glow worm and they are not poisonous. Well, in Africa for example, worms are a common part of the menu and worms are commonly sold in African and Asian markets. In Italy, for example, dried worm mushrooms are also very common. People usually do not mind worm-infested fruiting bodies. It is just a normal thing and people tolerate worm infestation to some degree. Plus worms will leave mushrooms during drying.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Some people hate worm-infested mushrooms…

Different customs and different culture may have different rules. They are probably very few people who “prefer “mushrooms full of squirming worms. Another fact is thatlarvae also leave excrements in the mushroom, which is not an appetizing thought. Well, if they eat, it has to come out somehow…yuck… But still, there is a rather negligible amount of excrement. Another problem is that dry worms will float on the surface of your favourite soup and that degrades the appearance of the food and many people will lose their appetite because of that. But enough worm talk.

Source: https://zivotvcesku.cz/cervive-houby-v-kuchyni-obsahuji-larvy-hmyzu-popsal-mykolog-rekl-zda-je-mozne-je-jist/
https://www.jsmekocky.cz/clanek/monika-dokoupilova/zajimavosti/cervive-houby-snist-nebo-okamzite-vyhodit

Preview photo: Radek Štěpán