Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr.
(Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)

Interactions where Cordyceps militaris is the dominant partner and gains from the process

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Stage Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season
stroma (solitary (usually)) solitary (usually) stroma is parasitoid of buried (usually) pupa LEPIDOPTERA butterflies and moths British Ascomycetes, Dennis, R.W.G., 1978
 /Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Cordycipitaceae/Cordyceps militaris/Cordyceps militarisscarlet caterpillarclub, scarlet caterpillar fungussolitary (usually)stroma Animal / parasitoid /Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Lepidoptera/Lepidopterabutterflies and mothsburied (usually)pupa
stroma (solitary (usually)) solitary (usually) stroma is parasitoid of buried (usually) larva LEPIDOPTERA butterflies and moths British Ascomycetes, Dennis, R.W.G., 1978
 /Fungi/Ascomycota/Sordariomycetes/Hypocreales/Cordycipitaceae/Cordyceps militaris/Cordyceps militarisscarlet caterpillarclub, scarlet caterpillar fungussolitary (usually)stroma Animal / parasitoid /Animalia/Arthropoda/Insecta/Lepidoptera/Lepidopterabutterflies and mothsburied (usually)larva

Author & YearTitleSource
Dennis, R.W.G., 1978British AscomycetesRevised and enlarged edition, 585pp, J. Cramer

Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus) may also be included in 'feeds on' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus) may be included in 'fed on by' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesCordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)
GenusCordyceps (caterpillarclubs and truffleclubs)
FamilyCORDYCIPITACEAE (a family of ascomycetes)
OrderHYPOCREALES (an order of ascomycetes and lichens)
SubclassSORDARIOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of ascomycetes and lichens)
ClassSORDARIOMYCETES (a class of ascomycetes)
SubphylumPEZIZOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of ascomycetes)
PhylumASCOMYCOTA (spore shooters, ascomycete)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)

Identification Works

Handling & MagnificationAuthorYearTitleSource
Gibbons, B. 2008 Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus Vol 20, No. 1 Page: 15
Greenhalgh, P. 2005 Fungi in Turn Slack Clough, Lancashire Field Mycology Vol 6 (2): 62-63.
Kibby, G. 2010 Cordyceps militaris excavated to show the moth pupa… Vol 11 (1) Page: Rear cover

Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

General Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Henrici, A. 2012 Notes and Records (Oct 2012) Field Mycology Vol 13 (4): 141-144.

Literature listed under the following higher taxa may also be relevant to Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus):

BioImagesBioImages (www.bioimages.org.uk) has 43 images of Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)

Generally widespread but uncommon in north central England and East Anglia.

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