Coleopteran and Lepidopteran Hosts of the Entomopathogenic Genus Cordyceps sensu lato

Abstract

Entomophthoralean and ascomycetous fungi are the two major groups known to parasitize arthropods in almost every terrestrial habitat of the earth. Within Ascomycota,Cordycepssensu lato is a large genus with more than 400 spp. described on numerous orders of Arthropoda. Among the hosts ofCordyceps, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera are the two major orders. Out of the estimated 200Cordycepsspp. recorded on coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts, we have documented 92 spp. based on the available information of their host species. Among coleopteran hosts, Scarabaeidae and Elateridae are the two major families. Similarly, among lepidopterans, Hepialidae is the largest host family.Cordyceps militarisshows the widest host range, extending to 2 orders, 13 families, and 32 spp. We hope such accumulative work will be useful as a quick reference for interested biologists, forest ecologists, biocontrol researchers, and fungal and insect taxonomists to apprehend host range and host specificities ofCordycepsfungi.

Mycosphere Essay 19. Cordyceps species parasitizing hymenopteran and hemipteran insects

“…The most expensive biological commodity Chinese caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinensis, current name Ophiocordyceps sinensis) that parasitizes hepialid larvae in the alpine grasslands of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau belongs to this broad genus (Sung et al 2007, Shrestha et al 2010. Recently, we catalogued Cordyceps species that parasitize coleopteran and lepidopteran insects (Shrestha et al 2016). Here, we catalogue Cordyceps species parasitizing hymenopterans (ants, bees, wasps) and hemipterans (cicadas, true bugs) that include many agricultural pests and biting/stinging insects.…”

Current nomenclatural changes inCordyceps sensu latoand its multidisciplinary impacts

“…It is a big hypocrealean genus, comprising more than 400 spp. that parasitise numerous orders of insects, including spiders, in majority (Araújo and Hughes 2016; Shrestha et al 2016). Cordyceps Fr.…”

Ophiocordyceps stylophora (Ophiocordycipitaceae) in Poland: new localities and host species

“…& Broome) G. H. Sung et al is a member of Hypocreales (Ascomycota). It was described in 1857, and classified within genus Cordyceps s. l. In 2007, it was transferred to the genus Ophiocordyceps [1,2]. This group of fungi exhibits parasitic tendencies [1].…”

“…It was described in 1857, and classified within genus Cordyceps s. l. In 2007, it was transferred to the genus Ophiocordyceps [1,2]. This group of fungi exhibits parasitic tendencies [1]. In most cases, they parasitize Coleoptera larvae, but some species have been recorded on insects in the Lepidoptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, and Araneae orders, as well as on fruit bodies of the hypogeous fungi from the genus Elaphomyces [1].…”

“…This group of fungi exhibits parasitic tendencies [1]. In most cases, they parasitize Coleoptera larvae, but some species have been recorded on insects in the Lepidoptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, and Araneae orders, as well as on fruit bodies of the hypogeous fungi from the genus Elaphomyces [1]. In Poland, 16 species of Cordyceps s. l. have already been recorded [3][4][5].…”