This research reveals how fungi protect themselves from being eaten by using bright pigments that make them unpalatable to predators, similar to how some bright-colored insects warn predators that they taste bad. Unlike previously thought toxic defenses, these pigments work by making the fungi distasteful rather than poisonous. This finding changes our understanding of how fungi defend themselves in nature. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps explain why some fungi have bright colors in nature • Could lead to new natural food preservatives that deter pests • Provides insights for developing non-toxic pest control methods • May help in understanding food spoilage by fungi • Could inspire new approaches to protecting crops from fungal damage