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Dragonfly infected with Cordyceps fungus (Ophiocordyceps ?odonatae)

on 4th October 2016

Johnny Wee had an exciting encounter at Venus Drive yesterday. In all his years as a nature photographer, this was the first time he came across a dragonfly infected with a cordyceps fungus (Ophiocordyceps ?odonatae). Not sure whether someone else had a similar encounter. If so, would he or she be able to recognise it as being infected with such a fungus?

dragonfly-cordyceps-jwee

The two images here show the dead and dried dragonfly immobilised on its support. Note the many slender outgrowths from its body. These are the fruiting bodies of the fungus packed with spores. The spores will eventually be release into the air to be blown away by the wind. Once a spore finds a suitable host, it will enter its body and put out branching threads will invade the tissues of the host. The host will eventually die and the parasitic fungus will push out its slender fruiting bodies and so the cycle continues.

Dragonfly-cordyceps [JWee]

Cordyceps are a group of parasitic fungi that grow inside the bodies of insects and other arthropods (centipedes, mites, lobsters, crabs, prawns…).

Check out this LINK to view the many different arthropods attacked by the cordyceps fungi. And BBC’s video on Zombie Fungi HERE.

Those who are into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may be familiar with cordyceps. The fungus Cordyceps sinensis, renamed Ophiocordyceps sinensis, grows inside the body of the caterpillars of a specific moth found at high altitudes in China, Tibet and Nepal. The fungus eventually kills the caterpillars and puts out its fruiting bodies. The cordyceps of TCM are the dried up caterpillar hosts with the fruiting bodies attached. Cordecyps are supposed to have anti-aging and pro-vitality properties.

Johnny Wee
Singapore
29th September 2016

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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