Cordyceps

The fungus forms 18 cm high, club-shaped and orange/red fruiting bodies, which infect Lepidoptera larvae and then grow out of them. Seen in a Worcestershire Churchyard

While working in my garden today I discovered this Cordyceps militaris fungus (Caterpillar Killer / Rupsendoder). It is not the most beautiful fungus and thats for sure. This particular Cordyceps militaris is about 2,5 cm in size.This is an extraordinary fungus that parasitises and kills moth pupae. It is an ascomycete that invades the pupae in the ground. Eventually the fungus will fruit sending out unmistakable bright orange fruiting bodies above the ground.Uit Wikipedia:De rupsendoder (Cordyceps militaris) is een paddenstoel uit de klasse van de Sordariomycetes, familie Corcycipitaceae.De zwam wordt 2 tot 6 centimeter hoog, en is een half tot 1 centimeter dik. De kleur van de zwam is oranjegeel tot oranje, de steel is meestal wat bleker. Op de hoed bevinden zich fijne wratjes. De zwam groeit op poppen van vlinders in diverse biotopen. In Nederland is de soort vrij algemeen.

The fungus forms 18 cm high, club-shaped and orange/red fruiting bodies, which infect Lepidoptera larvae and then grow out of them. Seen in a Worcestershire Churchyard

Scientific Name: Cordyceps militaris (L. ex St. Amans) LinkCommon Name: Trooping CordycepsCertainty: positive (notes)Location: Southern Appalachians; Smokies; CabinCoveDate: 20060715Perfect example, complete with pupal host. This is a fascinating fungus, considered to be a real find, as it grows exclusively on buried pupae of insects! However, a day or two after a good midsummer rain in the Smokies I can almost guarantee several sightings on a casual stroll through damp hardwood forest.

Even though it's not the best photo, you can clearly see the classic, graceful form of this Isaria species.Photographed by my husband, Chris Ryan, in the Botanical Garden Reserve at Straun, on the Hogarth Falls walk.IDENTIFYING AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST PLANTS,TREES & FUNGI - Flick Group --> DATABASE INDEX - TAGS