Molestus illusio

“Annoying illusion”

Kingdom
Papyrae
Division
Chartoniphyta
Class
Occlupanopsida
Order
Ephemerodectales
Family
Tridentaceae
Genus
Molestus
Species
M. illusio
External morphology

Small lateral palps and tufts. Size 21.4 mm x 23 mm.

Discovered and described by Hong Kong occlupanologist Kurisu (FORC) on various bags of bread products in Sydney, Australia. M. illusio is known to be prevalent on bread loaves of “Wonder” and several other labels as early as 2022. In 2023, it replaced P. glyphodorsalis on Golden pikelets, Tiptop bread rolls, and Turkish bread of several other varieties such as Sauer’s, Falcones, and Bakers Life. At least 10 colour morphs of M. illusio have been spotted in Sydney. They can be easily mistaken as microsyntherans at first glance.