Abstract
The agaric mushroom Hebeloma radicosum grows specifically on mole latrines near the animal’s nest. Consequently, its fructification enables one to locate mole nest. Three cases of fructification in Kutsuki, Takashima-shi, Shiga Pref., were found to have taken place on the nests of the Japanese mountain mole, Euroscaptor mizura. These cases were located at 770 m, 440 m, and 260 m in altitude. The nests were vacant when collected and hence identified by assessment of tunnel size and hair characteristics. Furthermore, in the case of the nest at 260 m, the E. mizura mole using the nest was captured, which confirmed nest identification and provided direct evidence of the species in the area. The existence of E. mizura in northwestern Shiga and its nesting at such a low altitude are reported for the first time.
