It has the ability to rapidly colonise sites through unique and highly specialised mycelium which also leads to greater degradation rates of wood cellulose.

[1] The specific epithet is derived from the Latin words serpula for "creeping" (as in a serpent) and lacrymans, meaning "making tears".

The fungus uses calcium and iron ions extracted from plaster, brick, and stone to aid the breakdown of wood,[6] which results in brown rot.

Although it is a common indoor biodeterioration agent, it has only been found in a few natural environments, the Himalayas,[7][8] Northern California,[9][10] the Czech Republic[11] and east Asia.

[14][15] In the United Kingdom alone, building owners spent at least £150 million annually to rectify damage caused by dry rot.

[16] NPS3 was overexpressed in E. coli and characterized as an atromentin/quinone synthetase that catalyzes the formation of atromentin, similar to GreA; InvA1,2 and 5; and AtrA from Suillus grevillei, Tapinella panuoides, Paxillus involutus, respectively.

The genus Serpula, including S. lacrymans and S. himantoides, is known to produce three classes of chemical compounds: pulvinic acid-type family, himanimides, and polyine acids.