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The white dung beetle mushroom has a non-standard appearance and color, due to which there is no consensus about its edibility. In some countries, this variety is happily harvested, eaten and even considered a delicacy, in others it is classified as poisonous.
So far there is no evidence that white dung beetle is toxic and hazardous to health, and much is known about its beneficial properties. It is not difficult to find such mushrooms, they grow in large groups, but lovers of "quiet hunting" should get to know them as closely as possible in order to learn how to recognize them by description, distinguish them from similar species, and find out useful and harmful properties.
Where does the white dung beetle mushroom grow
White dung (another name - koprinus, or ink) is widespread throughout Eurasia, North America, Australia, in some regions of Africa. It is called "urban", because in the forest this species can be found only on well-lit forest edges, clearings not shaded by trees. It grows in parks, landfills, stadiums, playgrounds, along highways, near rivers and lakes. In selected places it appears in large groups - 20 - 40 pieces.
The best soil for growing is loose, rich in organic matter, so the territory of pastures, vegetable gardens, orchards, garbage dumps can often become a place for collecting mushrooms. White dung beetle belongs to saprophytes, since it feeds on substances contained in humus, rotten wood or manure. It is hygrophilous, appears in rainy weather, grows rapidly, lives for only a few hours, during this time it matures and decomposes under the influence of its own enzymes, turning into food for new mushrooms.
The harvesting season begins in May and ends with the arrival of the first frost in October.
What does a white dung beetle look like?
White dung is the most recognizable of its kind among mushrooms and is most suitable for culinary purposes.
Due to its original appearance, it is extremely difficult to confuse it with any others.
Judging by the photo, the white dung beetle mushroom, when it is born, has an oblong ovoid or spindle-shaped cap, 5 to 12 cm high, 5 to 10 cm in diameter.As it grows, its edges move away from the stem, the shape changes to bell-shaped. Old mushrooms have a cap of the usual shape: hemispherical, slightly convex, with a dark tubercle in the center.
At first, the dung beetle is white, later the edges of the cap darken, first become gray, and then completely black.
The surface is covered with scales, due to which it looks "shaggy". The flesh of a young mushroom is soft and white, tasteless and odorless, while in the old one it becomes viscous and black.
The plates under the cap are often located and are large in size. At first they are white, then turn pink and finally turn into black, like the whole hat, slush. For this reason, the mushroom has a second name - ink.
The leg of the white dung beetle has a small diameter - about 2 cm, but considerable length - from 10 to 35 cm. The shape is regular, cylindrical, with a thickening in the form of a bulb in the lower part, inside it is hollow, outside it is fibrous. The color of the stem throughout the life of the mushroom is white. There is a movable ring on it, which eventually turns black with the cap.
More about what the coprinus looks like and where it grows in a useful video:
Dung beetle is white edible or not
According to its characteristics, the white dung beetle belongs to the conditionally edible mushrooms of the fourth category. The chemical composition of 100 g of the product includes:
- proteins - 3.09 g;
- fats - 0.34 g;
- carbohydrates - 3.26 g;
- fiber - 1 g.
100 g of its pulp contains no more than 22 kcal.
The attitude to the 4th category is explained by the fact that white dung beetle is similar to poisonous, it is small in size, has fragility and is not very popular among mushroom pickers.
A young fruit body of a white dung beetle is safe for health, while the cap is ovoid and white in color. As soon as the mushrooms entered the self-digestion phase and began to darken, you should not eat them. At this moment, they look extremely unattractive, which is also a signal not to use the product. Even harvested and frozen young fruit bodies in their raw state are capable of self-decomposition.
In the special literature, there are several tips for using the coprinus, among them:
- do not recommend mixing this type with others during processing;
- pick mushrooms in landfills, garbage dumps, near highways, next to industrial enterprises;
- consume the product with alcohol.
Taste qualities
The edibility and taste of the white dung beetle are not the same in different regions. Some consider it to be poisonous, so they never collect it, others consider it a delicacy.
Lovers of this exotic mushroom are never left without prey, as it prefers to grow in a large company. Koprinus is used for filling pies, soups, snacks, canning. Experts believe that it is not difficult to prepare white dung beetle and note its wonderful taste when salted, boiled or fried.
Only young white fruiting bodies are collected, no more than two hours are given for their processing, so that the process of autolysis (self-digestion) does not begin.
The benefits and harms of the white dung mushroom
The beneficial properties of white dung beetles and contraindications for use are associated with the chemical composition of the product, including:
- vitamins of group B, D1, D2, K1, E;
- minerals - zinc, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, selenium, iron, copper, potassium;
- amino acids;
- fructose;
- glucose;
- coprin;
- acids (nicotinic, folic, pantothenic);
- saturated fatty acids;
- trypsin;
- maltase;
- tyrosine and histidine.
Due to such a rich chemical composition, white dung beetle is recommended for use in a number of diseases:
- diabetes - due to the hypoglycemic effect;
- adenoma of the prostate gland;
- decreased immunity;
- hemorrhoids and constipation - as a pain reliever;
- sluggish digestion;
- joint diseases;
- cardiovascular pathologies - as a prophylactic agent;
- alcoholism.
For treatment, powders or extracts are used.
Mushroom-based preparations are used to combat alcoholism. The product contains coprin, a substance that prevents the breakdown of alcohol in the human body.Its action is manifested in the poisoning of a person with undecomposed alcohol products with characteristic concomitant symptoms:
- nausea;
- redness of the skin;
- vomiting;
- intense thirst;
- deterioration of vision;
- feeling of heat;
- increased heart rate.
These symptoms are present for three days. As a result of using the drug with koprin during a binge, a persistent aversion and rejection of alcohol is developed.
It should be remembered that white dung beetles easily absorb harmful substances from the soil, including heavy metals. For this reason, it is necessary to carefully consider the choice of places for their collection.
False doubles
The white dung beetle has a unique appearance, thanks to which it is impossible to confuse this representative with other mushrooms, therefore it has no counterparts by definition. Some species are most similar to him.
Shimmering dung
The mushroom has an egg-shaped cap, about 4 cm in diameter, with grooves. Its color is gray-brown, it is covered with scales. The leg is thin, hollow, fragile. The variety grows on rotten wood. Belongs to the conditionally edible category.
Willow dung
Its cap is whitish, in the shape of an egg, the grooves on the surface are more pronounced than in the shimmering dung beetle. The edge is uneven, the leg is thin, white, smooth, inside is hollow. This species grows everywhere, from May to October. Inedible variety.
Dung beetle resinous
The mushroom has a large egg-shaped cap with scales, which later takes on the shape of a bell. Leg - long (up to 20 cm), hollow, light, with a slight bloom. Has an unpleasant odor. The variety is not eaten.
Folded manure
The mushroom has a yellowish closed cap, which later becomes lighter and opens. There are folds on its surface. The leg is thin, smooth, light, fragile, often cannot withstand the weight of the cap, breaks, and then the dung beetle perishes. The life span of the fungus is about a day. Refers to inedible species.
Dunghill gray
It has a gray-brown egg-shaped cap, with noticeable fibrillation, covered with scales. The plates are grayish, later darken and blur with ink. Spore powder is black. The leg is white, hollow, about 15 cm long. There is no ring on it. Conditionally edible species.
Collection rules
Although the white dung beetle has no dangerous counterparts, care should be taken when picking mushrooms. To do this, you must comply with a number of safety rules:
- find out what a mushroom looks like at different stages of its development;
- do not collect it in landfills, where the accumulation of toxic substances is possible;
- take only young fruiting bodies with white plates, without signs of the onset of the autolysis process;
- at home, immediately sort through and remove copies with pink discs;
- process within 2 hours after collection.
How to cook white dung beetle mushroom
Despite the strange appearance of the fruit bodies, the gastronomic characteristics of the product are quite high. There are many recipes from white dung beetle, according to which you can prepare sauces, side dishes, first courses, pickles and marinades.
Trout with mushrooms
Dung beetle slices are fried in oil with finely chopped garlic. A glass of white wine is poured into the pan and stewed for about half an hour under the lid, after which salt and pepper are added to taste. Put ½ cup of sour cream and fried trout slices in ready-made mushrooms. The dish is served with herbs and young potatoes.
Dung beet soup
60 g of millet groats and finely chopped onions (1 head) are poured into boiling water. Cook until half cooked cereals. Add potatoes (400 g), cut into strips, and cook until cooked. Before the end of cooking, put pieces of pickled white dung beetles (400 g), season with vegetable oil (2 tablespoons), salt and boil for 10 minutes.
Recipes for making white dung beetle differ in variety, ease of implementation, a combination of various products, and an interesting rich taste. The main thing is to have high-quality mushrooms, collected and processed according to all the rules.
Conclusion
White dung beetle has a strange appearance and a completely unappetizing name. Nevertheless, with proper collection and preparation, you can get not only tasty, but also healthy dishes.
In many countries, this variety is considered a delicacy and is grown on an industrial scale. It has not yet gained wide popularity among our mushroom pickers, but admirers of the product note its excellent taste.
