Cordyceps myrmecophila Ces., Bot. Zeitung 4: 877 (1846). Torrubia myrmecophila (Ces.) Tul. & C. Tul., Sel. Fung. Carpol. 3: 18 (1865).

Anamorph state: Hymenostilbe aurantiaca Hywel-Jones

Hywel-Jones (1996) described "Specimens were found in the leaf litter of humid forest only during the wet season (May to October) or after sporadic heavy rainfall in the area of collection. The terminal 2-3 cm of the stroma was usually seen emerging from the leaf litter. Clavus arising from between the head and thorax of adult worker ants (Hymenoptera; Formicinae), usually single, sometimes multiple- headed, 30-80 mm long 200-300 (-500) µm diam., cream yellow to yellow orange. Fertile head terminal, ovoid, citriform to sub-cylindric, (1.5-2)-(3.2-4.2) x 1.2 mm. Ascomata immersed obliquely, ostioles slightly projecting, elongate flask-shaped, 600-650 x 180-200 µm, ascomatal walls hyaline. Asci cylindric, hyaline, capitate, 8-spored, 460-500 µm long by 5.5-6.5 µm wide. Ascus cap flattened, 6.7-8 x 4.7-6 µm. Ascospores filiform, almost as long as the asci, multiseptate and breaking into part- spores. Part-spores hyaline, barrel-shaped, ends truncate, 6-7.5 x 1.3-1.7 µm."   Hywel-Jones (1996) reported this was found from May to October (the wet season). There are now records for every month of the year except for February. However, records from November to January have been from sites in the south of Thailand where the wet season continues in to January. It would therefore seem that this species is confined to the wet season for a particular site.

Hywel-Jones, N.L. (1996). Cordyceps myrmecophila-like fungi infecting ants in the leaf litter of tropical forest in Thailand. Mycological Research 100: 613-619.   Sung, G.-H., Hywel-Jones, N.L., Sung, J.-M., Luangsa-ard, J.J., Shrestha, B. & Spatafora, J.W. (2007). Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the clavicipitaceous fungi. Studies in Mycology 57: 5-59.