Ophiocordyceps
E585254
Ophiocordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi best known for infecting and behaviorally manipulating insects, often called “zombie-ant” fungi.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Cordyceps | 1 |
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf | fungal genus ⓘ |
| affectsBehaviorOf | ants ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
canopy and understory vegetation
ⓘ
forest floor leaf litter ⓘ |
| causes | summit disease in infected insects ⓘ |
| class | Sordariomycetes NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| describedAs | parasitic fungi ⓘ |
| distribution | worldwide in suitable habitats ⓘ |
| ecologicalRole |
entomopathogenic fungus
ⓘ
pathogen of arthropods ⓘ |
| family | Ophiocordycipitaceae NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| formsStructure |
perithecia on stromata
ⓘ
stromata emerging from host body ⓘ |
| foundIn |
subtropical regions
ⓘ
temperate regions ⓘ tropical forests ⓘ |
| hostSpecificity | often host-specific at species level ⓘ |
| impactOnEcosystem | regulation of insect populations ⓘ |
| impactOnHosts | mortality of infected insects ⓘ |
| includesSpecies |
Ophiocordyceps australis
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Ophiocordyceps camponoti-rufipedis NERFINISHED ⓘ Ophiocordyceps sinensis NERFINISHED ⓘ Ophiocordyceps unilateralis NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| kingdom | Fungi ⓘ |
| knownFor |
behavioral manipulation of insect hosts
ⓘ
“zombie-ant” phenomenon ⓘ |
| lifestyle | obligate parasite ⓘ |
| manipulates |
host biting behavior
ⓘ
host locomotion ⓘ host orientation and perching behavior ⓘ |
| morphology |
darkly pigmented stromata in many species
ⓘ
filamentous hyphae inside host body ⓘ |
| order | Hypocreales NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| parasitizes |
ants
ⓘ
arthropods ⓘ insects ⓘ other arthropod hosts ⓘ spiders ⓘ |
| phylum | Ascomycota NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| previouslyClassifiedIn | Cordyceps NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| reproductionType |
asexual reproduction
ⓘ
sexual reproduction ⓘ |
| sporeDispersalMechanism | forcible discharge of ascospores ⓘ |
| sporeType | ascospores ⓘ |
| studiedIn |
behavioral ecology
ⓘ
evolutionary biology ⓘ parasitology ⓘ |
| taxonomicRankSplitFrom | Cordyceps NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| usedAs | model system for host manipulation ⓘ |
Referenced by (2)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
Cordyceps