A researcher team has used state-of-the-art genetic techniques to introduce four new species of Ophiocordyceps fungi in Thailand. These incredible organisms show such amazing parasitic lifestyles that they get everyone interested. This finding gives a vivid, cinematic picture of how fungi can hijack their insect victims’ brains in the wild. It’s almost exactly like the plot line of the wildly popular HBO show “The Last of Us”—minus the humans.
Ophiocordyceps species are best known for their spectacular chamberlainly specialization at infecting a variety of insects. The newly described species were all collected in rainforests and mixed forests of Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum and Tak provinces. One of those finds was Ophiocordyceps floriformis, identified in Khao Yai National Park growing near the Kong Kaeo Waterfall. This invasive species has a particular fascination with robber flies, resulting in unusual growths from the host’s abdomen.
Infected robber flies also have cup-like, flower-like structures extending from their heads, thoraxes, and abdomens. This striking aesthetic metamorphosis serves to highlight the fungi’s machinations and manipulations of their hosts. The study discovered some pretty psychedelic strains of Ophiocordyceps. Ophiocordyceps muscae infects houseflies, Ophiocordyceps tabani targets horseflies while Ophiocordyceps thilosuensis controls fruit flies.
The research detailing these discoveries was recently published in the journal MycoKeys. A dedicated crew of researchers rounded out this work, led by Suchada Mongkolsamrit, Donnaya Thanakitpipattana, Wasana Noisripoom and others. To define and describe the new Ophiocordyceps species, the research team used multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analysis.
The genus Ophiocordyceps is in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae and the order Hypocreales. These fungi are lauded for their intricate life cycles, contributions to our ecosystem as pathogens and decomposers. Their discovery highlights the diversity of Thailand’s national flower, as this group of unique flora continues to delight scientists. Beyond that, it enriches our understanding of what’s going on environmentally between fungi and insects.