Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala (Klotzsch ex Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora

Taxonomy

Authority:

(Klotzsch ex Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora

Citation:

Studies in Mycology 57: 47.

Synonymy:

Sphaeria sphecocephala Klotzsch ex Berk., J. Bot. (Hooker) 2: 206. 1843.
Torrubia sphecocephala (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Tul. & C. Tul., Sel. Fung. Carpol. 3: 18. 1865.
Cordyceps sphecocephala (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Berk. & M.A. Curtis, in Berkeley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 10: 376. 1869.

Mycobank:

MB 504343

NCBI:

NCBI Taxonomy Entry

Classification:

Ophiocordyceps, Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Hypocreomycetidae, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi

Morphology

Stroma:

Stromata usually simple, 2-5 cm long, stipitate, arising from any joint but often between the head and thorax of infected adult wasp (Hymenoptera). Stipe ochraceous to cream yellow, slender, fibrous, often slightly twisted, 0.5-1 mm thick. Fertile head usually fusoid , 5-8 mm in length and 1.5-2 mm in thickness, ochraceous to cream yellow, rough on the upper surface from the apices of the perithecia.

Perithecia:

Perithcia immersed, conoid, oblique with a curved neck, 900-1000 x 200-250 um, with the ostioles opening on the upper surface of the head.

Asci:

Asci hyaline, cylindrical, 500-600 x 4-6 um, possessing a prominent apical cap, 4-5 um thickness.

Ascospores:

Ascospores filiform, nearly as long as ascus, multiseptate, easily breaking into hyaline part-spores. Partspores fusoid, 10-14 x 1.5-2.5 um.

Anamorph

Genus:

Hymenostilbe

Species:

sphecocephala

Notes:

conidiogenous cells variable, cylindrical, 10-20 x 3-6 um with one to three stout denticles. Conidia broadly clavate, strongly apiculate, 3-10 x 3-4.5 um.

Ecology

Host or Substrate:

on adult of wasps (Hymenoptera)

Known Distribution:

China, Colombia, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, United States of America

References

Nigel Hywel-jones, 1995. Cordyceps sphecocephala and a Hymenostilbe sp. infecting wasps and bees in Thailand. Mycological research. 99(2):154-158

E. B. Mains, 1959. CORDYCEPS SPECIES. Bullet of the torrey botaxical club. 86(1):46-58

Sung et al., 2007. Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi. Studies in Mycology, 57(1):5-59

Page Author:

Mingjun Chen, Gi-Ho Sung