Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala

Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala is a species of parasitic fungus. It is entomopathogenic, meaning it grows within insects, particularly wasps of the genera Polistes, Tachytes, and Vespa. It has been reported across the Americas and China.[2]

Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Ascomycota
Class:
Sordariomycetes
Order:
Hypocreales
Family:
Ophiocordycipitaceae
Genus:
Ophiocordyceps
Species:
O. sphecocephala
Binomial name
Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala
(Klotzsch ex Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora (2007)
Synonyms[1]
  • Cordyceps sphaecophila (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Berk. & M.A. Curtis (1868)
  • Cordyceps sphecocephala (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Berk. & M.A. Curtis (1869)
  • Sphaeria sphecocephala Klotzsch ex Berk. (1843)
  • Torrubia sphecocephala (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Tul. & C. Tul. (1865)

Physically, its stromata can be 2–10 cm long, and form an egg-shaped head. It is cream or yellow in color.[2]

The fungus has possible implications in medicine; it may have anti-asthmatic or anti-cancer properties.[3][4]

After the fungus takes over the insect, the insect would go to the highest place and the fungus would sprout out of the body.

This is a rare ingredient coveted by Chinese apothecaries and can be worth hundreds of dollars.

References
  1. "Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  2. Mains, E. B. (1958). "North American Entomogenous Species of Cordyceps". Mycologia. Mycological Society of America. 50 (2): 169–222. doi:10.2307/3756193. JSTOR 3756193.
  3. Heo, Jin-Chul; Nam, Sung-Hee (2010). "Anti-asthmatic activities in mycelial extract and culture filtrate of Cordyceps sphecocephala J201". International Journal of Molecular Medicine. Spandidos Publications. 26 (3): 351–356. doi:10.3892/ijmm_00000472. PMID 20664950.
  4. Oh, Jung Young (2008). "Apoptosis of human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) and neuroblastoma (SKN-SH) cells induced by polysaccharides-peptide complexes produced by submerged mycelial culture of an entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps sphecocephala". Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 18 (3): 512–519. PMID 18388470.


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