What Does Mold Look Like Under a Microscope? Facts, Types & Tips

Last Updated on Mar 14 2024

One of the top ways to determine if mold is present on a property is to look under a microscope. The appearance of the mold will differ heavily based on the type of mold that is present. More so, mold that is grown in a laboratory tends to have a different appearance than mold grown out on its own.

As such, mold can take on many different appearances. You will have to consider the type of mold spore to estimate what the mold will look like under a microscope. Below, learn about what top mold varieties look like under a microscope and how to check for mold using a microscope.

What Do Mold Spores Look Like Under a Microscope? 

To the naked eye, most mold looks similar. However, a closer inspection of mold tells us that the different mold varieties vary in appearance and structure. As such, there’s no singular predicted look of mold. You have to predict what mold will look like based on the species at hand.

With that in mind, here is how popular varieties of mold look under a microscope:

As you can see, mold takes on many appearances and shapes under a microscope. Though most take on a rounded form, the exact form varies widely.

How Do You Check for Mold Under a Microscope?

If you want to see mold under a microscope, there are some things you will need and need to do.

Once you have everything you need, place a single drop of water on the glass slide right in the center. Add the specimen to the drop of water and add a coverslip over this slide. If you lay this slip at an angle, it will remove the air bubbles. Be sure to lay the slip down gently too.

Start viewing the mold by putting the glass under your microscope and gradually increase power until you can see the specimen.

If you’re having trouble seeing the specimen, you can add a drop of methylene blue solution. This blue solution simply enhances visibility.

Conclusion

Mold takes on many forms, which means it takes on many shapes. This explains why there is no one-size-fits-all explanation about how mold looks under a microscope. To get a better idea of what mold will look like under a microscope, it’s best to know what type of mold you are dealing with.

• You Might Also Be Interested In: What is a Scanning Electron Microscope?

Featured Image Credit: Olpo, Shutterstock