Sphaeria sphecocephala Klotzsch ex Berk., J. Bot. (Hooker) 2: 206 (1843). Torrubia sphecocephala (Klotzsch ex Berk) Tul. & C. Tul, Sel. Fung. Carpol. 3: 18. (1865). Cordyceps sphecophila (Klotzsch ex Berk.) Berk. & M.A. Curtis, J. Linn., Soc. Bot. 10: 376. (1868).
Anamorph state: Hymenostilbe sp.
Description:Hywel-Jones (1995) described "Specimens were found in the leaf litter of the forest floor. A single stroma arose from any point on the insect but usually from between the head and thorax. This was up to 45 mm long including the head. The diameter of the stalk was 150-800 µm consisting of parallel strands of septate, tightly packed hyphae, 4-6 µm across. Fertile heads were terminal, variable in size and shape, the smallest being 2.2 x 1.2 mm and the largest 11 x 1.9 mm but mostly in the range 4-8 x 1.4-1.8 mm. Head were citriform to cylindric in shape, attenuating to a bent tip. Both stalk and head were ochraceous to cream yellow. Perithecia were large 880-1000 x 200-260 µm with no evidence of a hamathecium. Asci hyaline, filiform, at least 700 µm long and up to 7 µm diam. with a prominent apical cap. Ascospores hyaline, fusoid part-spores, 10-14 x 1.5-2.5 µm." This species has been found throughout the year apart from January and February . It has been found from Doi Inthanon National Park to as far south as Khao Pu - Khao Ya National Park.
References:Hywel-Jones, N.L. (1995). Cordyceps sphecocephala and a Hymenostilbe sp. infecting wasps and bees in Thailand. Mycological Research 99: 154-158. 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.
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