Serpula himantioides its relation to "S. lacrymans." "Serpula himantioides" has a heterothallic tetrapolar mating system. This means it requires the growth and conjugation of two mating types, determined by the expression of one or more alleles of two unlinked mating loci, for sexual reproduction. "Serpula himantioides" is commonly found in the wild, while "S. lacrymans" is rarely found in the wild and is generally found on lumber in buildings and construction. Serpula himantioides Serpula himantioides is a species of fungus that causes damage to timber referred to as dry rot. It is a basidiomycete in the order Boletales. It has been found
Serpula himantioides appear as distinctive fruiting bodies on the exterior of the host. "S. himantioides" prefers the moist wood of coniferous hosts such as fir, larch, spruce, and pine. It is the causal agent of butt rot disease, the symptoms of which include rotting the heartwood at base of tree, as well as damage to the tap root and cores of lateral roots, but standing trees show no signs of infection. It also a common cause of timber rotting in buildings, which has made this pathogen difficult to differentiate from "S. lacrymans" because of their similarities. This disease often goes unnoticed initially