Akanthomyces aculeatus Lebert    
Kingdom Fungi   >   Phylum Ascomycota   >   Class Sordariomycetes   >   Order Hypocreales   >   Family Cordycipitaceae   >   Genus Akanthomyces   

Status:

"Parasitizing and emerging from the bodies of moths with multiple rod-like structures arising from a single moth" (Elliott & Stephenson). The anamorph (asexual) stage of this fungus is marked by rod-like structures arising from a white mycelium on the host. The rods are covered by conidia (asexual spores). The infected moth is attached firmly to a branch or other substrate by mycelium. (J. Solem, pers. comm.)

Because certain stages of Cordyceps tuberculata and C. sphingum (and perhaps others) can be confused with Akanthomyces aculeatus, microscopic examination is necessary to establish certain identity (Ascomycetes of North America, M. Beug, A. E. Bessette, A. R. Bessette, 279-80).

There are 13 records in the project database.

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Akanthomyces aculeatus infecting moth specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (9/21/2018). Photo shows host moth with fungal rods covered with conidia (asexual spores). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

A moth parasitized by Akanthomyces aculeatus in Howard Co., Maryland (2/11/2018). Determined by Alan Bessette via microscopic examination. Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus infecting a moth specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (1/23/2019). Verified by Jo Solem. Identification based solely on macrocharacteristics. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus infecting a moth specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (1/23/2019). Verified by Jo Solem. Identification based solely on macrocharacteristics. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus infecting a moth specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (1/23/2019). Identification based solely on macrocharacteristics. Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus in Howard Co., Maryland (9/21/2018). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus infecting a moth specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (1/8/2019). Verified by Jo Solem. Identification based solely on macrocharacteristics. Photo by Anna Schrad. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus in Howard Co., Maryland (2/17/2020). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus in Howard Co., Maryland (2/15/2020). (c) prettycoolman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by prettycoolman via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus in Howard Co., Maryland (2/15/2020). (c) prettycoolman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by prettycoolman via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Spores of Akanthomyces aculeatus in Howard Co., Maryland (9/21/2018). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Conidia (asexual spores) of anamorph stage of Akanthomyces aculeatus collected in Howard Co., Maryland (9/21/2018). Fusiform, smooth, hyaline; measured 3.9-5.0 x 2.2-2.6 microns. Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus in Howard Co., Maryland (2/17/2020). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Akanthomyces aculeatus in Howard Co., Maryland (5/8/2020). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)


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