Jack O Lantern
Omphalotus illudens · Family Omphalotaceae · Updated October 2026
1,669US records
34states
Augbusiest month
1,669 US records since 1879 (1,110 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Oct 4, 2026 (about 3 weeks ago) near Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, and the busiest months are Aug, Sep and Oct. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)
⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
☠ Dangerous genus. The genus Omphalotus includes jack-o'-lantern mushrooms, often mistaken for chanterelles. Mushrooms in this group have caused serious or fatal poisonings.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.
When it's recorded
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Aug, Sep, Oct.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Tompkins County, NY (43) · latest Sep 1, 2026
- Montgomery County, MD (41) · latest Aug 29, 2026
- Cook County, IL (41) · latest Sep 11, 2026
- Sussex County, NJ (37) · latest Sep 28, 2019
- Cuyahoga County, OH (30) · latest Oct 3, 2026
- Morris County, NJ (29) · latest Aug 19, 2024
- Ocean County, NJ (29) · latest Oct 26, 2019
- Summit County, OH (28) · latest Sep 25, 2026
- Centre County, PA (27) · latest Sep 17, 2026
- Allegheny County, PA (27) · latest Aug 15, 2026
More on this species from GBIF.
Bring along
🍄
Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon🍄
Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon🍄
Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon🍄
10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon🍄
Spore print paperSee on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.