Fauna
Fungus

Scarlet Caterpillar Club

Cordyceps militaris

Also known as Caterpillar Fungus, Trooping Cordyceps, Scarlet Club Fungus

Scarlet caterpillar club is a vivid entomopathogenic fungus that erupts from the buried pupae or larvae of moths. Its mycelium consumes the living tissue of its insect host from within, mummifying the body into a rigid underground sclerotium before sending up bright club-shaped fruiting bodies. In late summer and autumn, minute flask-shaped perithecia embedded across the club surface discharge thread-like ascospores into forest breezes to infect new hosts.

FungusParasiteForest
Scarlet Caterpillar Club reference
(c) Jason Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyLepidopteran pupae, Moth caterpillars, Beetle larvae
Predators
  • Fungus gnats
  • Slugs
  • Mycoparasitic fungi
ThreatsDeforestation, leaf litter disturbance, and soil compaction
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed woodland floors, moss beds, and damp leaf litter
Life spanFruiting body lasts 2–6 weeks; lifecycle tied to host availability
Classification
  1. OrderHypocreales
  2. FamilyCordycipitaceae
  3. GenusCordyceps
  4. SpeciesCordyceps militaris
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many wild fungi have toxic look-alikes; never consume wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Look low: Scan damp, mossy soil and undisturbed leaf litter in broadleaf woods during late summer.
  • Gentle excavation: Gently brush away surface litter to confirm attachment to a buried insect pupa without destroying it.
  • Leave in place: Allow wild specimens to mature and release spores to sustain local insect-regulating cycles.
Related species
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