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

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)
Records of Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus) :
1: Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)
11 Aug 2001 OSGR: SU91 50° 50’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: West Sussex (VC 13) England
on moth buried pupa
Image 1: FruitbodiesImage 2: Fruitbodies on pupa - side viewImage 3: Fruitbody - close-upImage 4: Host pupa - anal spinesImage 5: Host pupa - side view
2: Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)
21 Oct 2000 OSGR: SU56 51° 30’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
growing from moth pupa in moss
Image 1: Fruitbodies - excavatedImage 2: Fruitbodies - in situImage 3: Stroma - surface showing peritheciaImage 4: Stroma - surface showing perithecia - close-upImage 5: Asci from squashed peritheciumImage 6: Asci - showing ascospores withinImage 7: Asci - showing ascospores within (2)Image 8: Asci with protruding ascosporesImage 9: Ascospores - before breaking into part sporesImage 10: Ascospores - before breaking into part spores (2)Image 11: Ascospores - close-up before breaking up into part sporesImage 12: Ascospores - in spore printImage 13: Ascospores - in spore print (2)Image 14: Ascospores - in spore print (3)Image 15: Ascospores - in spore print (4)Image 16: Ascospores - in spore print (5)Image 17: Ascus tipsImage 18: Ascus tips (2)Image 19: Ascus tips (3)Image 20: Ascus tips (4)Image 21: Ascus tip with protruding ascosporesImage 22: Perithecial wallImage 23: Perithecial wall (2)Image 24: Squashed perithecia and asciImage 25: Squashed perithecia and asci (2)Image 26: Squashed perithecia and asci (3)
3: Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)
28 Aug 1999 OSGR: SU56 51° 30’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
on buried mummified caterpillar
Image 1: Fruitbody on mummified caterpillarImage 2: Fruitbody on mummified caterpillar (2)Image 3: Fruitbody - stalk - close-upImage 4: Fruitbody - surface - close-upImage 5: Fruitbody - tips - close-upImage 6: AsciImage 7: Asci (2)Image 8: Asci showing tips of long narrow sporesImage 9: Asci showing tips of long narrow spores (2)
4: Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)
14 Nov 1976 OSGR: SU83 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
Image 1: Fruitbody cluster
5: Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)
13 Oct 1974 OSGR: SU97 51° 30’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
growing from mummified caterpillar, on woodland ride
Image 1: Fruitbody and host caterpillarImage 2: Fruitbody - in situ

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
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:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 2 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub, Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus)

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

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