Cordyceps
1. Eukaryote
Cordyceps sp.
2. Nuclei in Cells
3. Multicellular
4. Cell wall
5. Heterotroph
6. Sessile (sort-of)
7. Sexual and Asexual
Reproduction
8. Kingdom Fungi
Cordyceps
Cordyceps sp.
Kingdom Fungi
Division Ascomycota
Class Sodariomycetes
Order Hypocreales
Family Clavicipitaceae
Genus Cordyceps
species (multiple species)
Cordyceps
Cordyceps sp.
This parasitic genus
contains around
400 species
distributed
throughout the
world with most
living in tropical
rainforests.
The “host”
• Cordyceps spores find an insect and begin to
grow inside eating the nutrients in the insect.
Attacking the brain
• They grow their
hyphae towards
the brain of the
insect and infect
the optical nerve,
the part of the
brain that controls
perception of light.
Attacking the brain
• The insect then
climbs upward in
search of light.
When it reaches a
point high in the
trees it clasps on
and dies.
The fungus then
sprouts a fruiting
body and releases
spores from high up
in the trees.
From this height, the
spores disperse great
distances and infect
more insects!