Cordyceps militaris

Hi Chris, Many thanks for info. I will check with Lepidoptera experts in Glamorganshire VC41 which species found here and maybe we will get some more information when we next encounter C.militaris. VC41 – seems to be frequent on unimproved pasture which we still have quite a lot left. Next Foray in November on good site.

Next question (for a later post) what Cordyceps and allied genera found in upland Peru?

Mark

I have seen this frequently on unimproved pasture (prime Waxcap sites) and I wonder if anyone has ideas on host/s for this? I think condition of remains is often difficult for Entomologists to identify! It seems many Cordyceps and allied genera are host specific. The ‘medicinal’ Orphicordyceps sinensis is reported to be specific to ‘Ghost moths’ (not sure genus or species) in Tibet and possibly other areas of Asia.

C. militaris is not limited to any insect host; see: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/225183735_The_medicinal_fungus_Cordyceps_militaris_Research_and_development” class=”bbcode_url”>http://www.researchgate.net/publication/225183735_The_medicinal_fungus_Cordyceps_militaris_Research_and_development especially the “Cultivation of C. militaris” section. It would appear that the fungus can even be grown on brown rice!, so clearly there is no specificity here; it will certainly attack beetle larvae as well as lepidopteran ones . . .

cheers

Chris

Thanks Chris, I have seen this paper before but interested in ‘hosts’ in the wild to see if we can identify host/hosts in VC41.

‘Brown rice’ doesn’t grow here but plenty of beetle spp.!

Nottingham Uni is doing research on cancer treatments with ‘Cordycepin’ (I think I’ve spelt that correctly!) that is only found naturally in ‘Cordyceps’

Mark

Ghost Moth is Hepialus humuli, which includes a number of subspecies.

The Hepialidae family contains somewhere in the region of 500 species of primitive moths, collectively known as Swift Moths. The larvae reside in the soil and feed on roots (mainly grasses) and often take two years to complete their lifecycle. There are 5 species of Hepialus in Britain, all candidates for Cordyceps. We have three species here in the northwest; the commonest being the Map-winged Swift, but I’m still looking for my first Cordyceps.

http://www.outerhebrideslepidoptera.co.uk/species.php?id=185

http://www.outerhebrideslepidoptera.co.uk/species.php?id=147

Cheers, Chris

Looks like we have records in VC41 for H.humuli and H.sylvina so will try and check with Lepidopta experts locally if these are present in our C.militaris locations. I will try to post further information in due course.

Mark

Interesting paper at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qXy7rpkMJdwC&lpg=PA277&ots=IYtSIwYmwu&dq=perithecial%20ostioles%20cordyceps&pg=PA277#v=onepage&q=perithecial%20ostioles%20cordyceps&f=false

Looks like C.militaris is not picky on hosts!

Mark