Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a genus of fungi that parasitize insects and other arthropods. Some species have a history of use in traditional medicine and are sold as supplements.

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Entomopathogenic fungus: A fungus that infects and kills insects or other arthropods. Cordyceps species belong to this broader group of animal-infecting fungi.
Ascomycota: A fungal phylum whose members produce sexual spores in sac-like cells called asci. Cordyceps is classified among these spore-producing fungi.
Ophiocordyceps sinensis: A high-altitude parasitic fungus associated with caterpillars and traditionally harvested in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. This species is the source of the costly traditional product commonly called caterpillar fungus.
Cordyceps sensu lato: An informal broad grouping of fungi historically classified in the genus Cordyceps before molecular revisions. The older, expansive use of the name differs from the modern genus.
Fungal spore: A reproductive cell that can develop into a new fungus under suitable conditions. Spores are the infectious starting point of many Cordyceps life cycles.
Ophiocordycipitaceae: A family of parasitic fungi that includes several insect-infecting genera. Many familiar Cordyceps species are now placed in this family.
Cordyceps militaris: A brightly colored fungus that parasitizes insects and can be cultivated for its fruiting bodies. Its cultivability has made it a common ingredient in Cordyceps supplements.
Cordyceps sensu stricto: The restricted genus Cordyceps as recognized after taxonomic changes separated several related lineages. This narrower classification clarifies which fungi properly retain the genus name.
Fungal infection: The invasion and growth of fungi within a host organism. Cordyceps establishes itself by infecting a living arthropod.
Arthropod: An invertebrate animal with a segmented body, jointed limbs, and an external skeleton. Insects and other arthropods provide hosts for Cordyceps species.