A new mushroom species has ravaged trees and worms alike all throughout the United States. Ironically, while these mushrooms are destroying forests, enthusiasts are hosting an event celebrating the spuds. However the Golden Oyster, or Yellow Oyster, isn’t invited to the festival. The mushroom has spread its spores all the way to Europe, where it affects places like Italy and the United Kingdom.

Golden Oyster mushrooms are mainly focused on decaying trees; The only problem is the speed at which they decay the trees. The native mushrooms can’t seem to keep up with the golden oyster, and are dying off at a faster rate from the harsh competition. 

Along with decaying trees, the golden oyster is one of the only carnivorous species of mushroom. According to the BBC, Golden Oyster mushrooms mercilessly prey on nematode worms. These mushrooms are able to spread billions of spores by themselves in the lifetime, off of a single mushroom.

The Golden Oyster outperformed the native decomposers, speeding up the decay of creatures and plants in ecosystems, effectively killing them off. Smithsonian magazine states that Golden Oyster mushrooms are beloved across Asia because of their bright color and deep umami flavor.

The mushrooms got to the US because of their popular flavor. When U.S. gardeners planted them, they quickly spread their spores to surrounding forests. With the mushroom killing the native species, medicines that utilize the native species now need  to find alternative methods of growing them, or find a way to get rid of the Golden Oysters altogether.

While the South slowly awaits the arrival of the golden oyster, Researchers are currently trying to find a way to remove the Golden Oysters from U.S. ecosystems.