# Coleopteran and Lepidopteran Hosts of the Entomopathogenic GenusCordycepssensu lato

Authors: Bhushan Shrestha; Eiji Tanaka; Min Woo Hyun; Jae-Gu Han; Chang Sun Kim; Jong Won Jo; Sang-Kuk Han; Junsang Oh; Gi-Ho Sung
Journal: Journal of Mycology
 (2016)

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## Abstract

Entomophthoralean and ascomycetous fungi are the two major groups known to parasitize arthropods in almost every terrestrial habitat of the earth. Within Ascomycota,Cordyceps sensu lato is a large genus with more than 400 spp. described on numerous orders of Arthropoda. Among the hosts ofCordyceps, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera are the two major orders. Out of the estimated 200Cordyceps spp. recorded on coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts, we have documented 92 spp. based on the available information of their host species. Among coleopteran hosts, Scarabaeidae and Elateridae are the two major families. Similarly, among lepidopterans, Hepialidae is the largest host family.Cordyceps militaris shows the widest host range, extending to 2 orders, 13 families, and 32 spp. We hope such accumulative work will be useful as a quick reference for interested biologists, forest ecologists, biocontrol researchers, and fungal and insect taxonomists to apprehend host range and host specificities ofCordyceps fungi.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Fungi play vital roles in the recycling of organic matter in the terrestrial habitat of the earth. Besides that, they also parasitize living organisms and cause various diseases on plants, animals, and insects. Estimates show 750–1000 fungal spp. parasitizing insects naturally [1, 2], although the extent of the diversity of the entomopathogenic fungi is not completely known [3, 4]. The entomopathogenic fungi mainly belong to two diverse groups within kingdom Fungi, Entomophthorales (Phylum Entomophthoromyota, formerly Zygomycota) and Hypocreales (Phylum Ascomycota). These fungi are distributed in wide terrestrial ecosystems of the world including Arctic Circle and Antarctica [5]. Entomophthoralean pathogens generally show narrow host range and are distributed in temperate forests [6] with rare reports from tropical regions [7]. Hypocrealean pathogens, on the other hand, have narrow to very broad host range [4] and are dominantly distributed in humid tropical forests [7].Cordyceps Fr. is one of the hypocrealean genera, comprising more than 400 spp. that parasitize a wide range of insects and few fungal genera. Externally, they produce clavate, cylindrical or thin filamentous, filiform stroma on the hosts. The history of exploring and identifyingCordyceps fungi is long and stretches back to the 17th century [8]. One of the most popular fungi isOphiocordyceps sinensis (syn.Cordyceps sinensis) that grows on hepialid larvae in the alpine grasslands of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau [9]. This host-fungus complex is traditionally highly revered for enhancing immunity, protecting lungs, enriching kidneys, restorative and tonic effects, treating impotence, and so forth [10–13].Until the phylogenetic classification by Sung et al. [14],Cordyceps remained a big genus placed in family Clavicipitaceae of order Hypocreales. However, phylogenetic studies showed that neitherCordyceps nor Clavicipitaceae was monophyletic [14–18] and henceCordyceps was segregated into several phylogenetic genera within three families of Hypocreales [14]. According to the phylogenetic classification,Cordyceps is now restricted to the clade containing the type speciesC. militaris, circumscribed to Cordycipitaceae [14]. Newly segregated generaOphiocordyceps andElaphocordyceps were placed under another family Ophiocordycipitaceae; the other two generaMetacordyceps andTyrannicordyceps remained in Clavicipitaceaesensu stricto [14, 19].Following the recent revision in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN),Elaphocordyceps is now synonymized withTolypocladium [20] andMetacordyceps withMetarhizium [21].Drechmeria,Podocrella,Polycephalomyces, andSphaerocordyceps are other genera that consist of members that were formerly described underCordyceps.Cordyceps along with the newly segregated genera is linked to many asexual insect-pathogenic genera distributed in all three families Clavicipitaceae s. s., Cordycipitaceae, and Ophiocordycipitaceae [4, 14, 20]. Further synonymizations of genera are recently proposed within Ophiocordycipitaceae following ICN [22].The host range ofCordyceps in classical sense is very broad and includes several orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Araneae, Diptera, Blattodea, Mantodea, Dermaptera, Odonata, Phasmatodea, etc.). Based on the published literature, nearly 60% of the species ofCordyceps sensu lato are recorded on two orders Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. The other major host orders are Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and Araneae. The majority of hosts (more than 95%) in Lepidoptera (moths, butterflies) and Coleoptera (beetle) are larvae; the rest are adults or pupae, making the host identification difficult. In contrast, majority of hosts in other orders are adults such as spiders (Araneae), fly (Diptera), ant, bee, and wasp (Hymenoptera), grasshopper, locust, and cricket (Orthoptera), cicada, bug, scale-insect, and coccid (Hemiptera), cockroach and termite (Blattodea), mantis (Mantodea), earwig (Dermaptera), dragonfly (Odonata), and stick-insect (Phasmatodea). Why lepidopterans and coleopterans are mostly susceptible at larval stage while other orders are more susceptible at adult stage is not well understood.


## 2. Host-Pathogen Interaction

Cordyceps fungi range in habitat from aerial to epigeal to subterranean ones [74], based on their respective host species. When the host stage is adult, they grow on exposed environments such as leaf litter or are attached to some plant parts such as leaf and branch and in contrast to the larval or pupal stages that are buried in soil (hypogeal) or on wood up to nearly 50 cm, for example,O. longissima [75] andO. xuefengensis [76].Ophiocordyceps caloceroidesthat is buried in the soil more than 50 cm is exceptional which grows on adult spiders [77].The pathogenic fungi sometimes produce parasite manipulated behaviors on hosts, such as death grip or biting behavior [78–80]. Some of the parasitized ants always bite lower side veins but never the laminar blade or the upper surface [79, 80]. Similarly, some species of ants are attached to lower side of twigs whereas others are found attached to leaves [81]. In other cases, aphids, ants, grasshoppers, planthoppers, flies, and so forth shift to elevated position at the time of dying, known as summit disease [82, 83].In this review, we present brief introductions of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera and their major subgroups parasitized byCordyceps fungi. We hope the present review will serve as a reference for researchers and scholars to get a quick look at coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts ofCordyceps spp.


## 3. Materials and Methods

We accumulated host information from published literature and analysed the hosts that belonged to Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. We found that hosts of only 60% ofCordyceps fungi are known at family or genus/species ranks; the rest are known only at the order rank and hence no further discussions of the hosts could be done for them. Hence, in this review, we dealt with only those hosts that are known at family or infrafamily ranks within Coleoptera and Lepidoptera and tried to analyse the major taxonomic subgroups that are associated withCordyceps fungi. We also analysed the host stage among coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts based on published literature.


## 4. Coleopteran Hosts

Coleoptera is currently the most species-rich group on this planet [84]. The order is classified into four suborders (Polyphaga, Adephaga, Myxophaga, and Archostemata) [85]. Polyphaga is the largest suborder covering 90% of total beetle species and is classified into more than 170 families. Adephaga is the second largest suborder, followed by Myxophaga and Archostemata. All the known coleopteran hosts belong to suborders Polyphaga and Adephaga under 8 superfamilies and 11 families. Short descriptions of host families are given below, followed byCordyceps spp. recorded on them.


### 4.1. Superfamily Scarabaeoidea

#### 4.1.1. Scarabaeidae

This is one of the largest families in Coleoptera and its members are commonly called scarabs or scarab beetles. Scarabaeid larvae (commonly called grubs) are short, thick, pale yellow or white, mostly live underground or under debris, and feed on dead organic matter (scavengers). Twenty-sevenCordycepsspp. are recorded in this family (Table 1). Among them,C. brittlebankii is recorded onHeteronyxsp.,C. brongniartiionAnomala cuprea,C. coxiionLepidiota sp.,C. pseudoinsignisandC. velutipesonMelolontha sp.,Ophiocordyceps aphodii onAphodius howitti andA. tasmaniae,O. melolonthae onAncyloncha puncticollis,Lachnosterna fusca, andMelolontha sp.,O. michiganensis onScarabaeus sp.,O. raveneliionL. fusca,Phyllophagasp., andRhizotrogussp., andO. stylophoraonCostelytra zealandica (Table 1). Other species recorded in this family areC. obliquiordinata,C. scarabaeicola,Metarhizium brittlebankisoides,Ophiocordyceps arbuscula,O. barnesii,O. elongatiperitheciata,O. geniculata,O. gracillima,O. highlandensis,O. konnoana,O. larvicola,O. macularis,O. neovolkiana,O. nigrella,O. superficialis,O. variabilis, andSphaerocordyceps palustris(Table 1). Out of 27Cordycepsspp., 26 are recorded on larvae exceptC. scarabaeicola that is recorded on adult (Table 1).Table 1
An aggregate list of coleopteran hosts (family/genus/species) ofCordyceps species.
S number
Cordyceps sp.
Family
Genus/species
Host stage
1
C. aurantiaca
Elateridae
—
Larva [23]
2
C. brittlebankii
Scarabaeidae
Heteronyx sp.
Larva [24]
3
C. brongniartii
Scarabaeidae
Anomala cuprea
Larva [25]
4
C. coxii
Scarabaeidae
Lepidiota sp.
Larva [26]
5
C. erotyli
Erotylidae
Erotylus sp.
Adult [27]
6
C. geotrupis
Geotrupidae
Geotrupes sp.
Adult [28]
7
C. huntii
Elateridae
—
Larva [29]
8
C. memorabilis
Staphylinidae
Staphylinus sp.
Adult [30]
9
C. militaris
CurculionidaeTenebrionidae
Ips sexdentatus
Tenebrio molitor
Larva [31, 32]
10
C. nikkoensis
Carabidae
—
Larva [33]
11
C. nirtolii
Elateridae
Melanotus communis
Larva [34]
12
C. obliquiordinata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [35]
13
C. pseudoinsignis
Scarabaeidae
Melolontha sp.
Larva [36]
14
C. rubra
Elateridae
—
Larva [37]
15
C. scarabaeicola
Scarabaeidae
—
Adult [38]
16
C. shanxiensis
Elateridae
Melanotus caudex, Pleonomus canaliculatus
Larva [39]
17
C. staphylinidicola
Staphylinidae
—
Larva [40]
18
C. velutipes
ElateridaeScarabaeidae
—
Melolontha sp.
Larva [36, 41]
19
M. brittlebankisoides
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [42]
20
M. campsosterni
Elateridae
Campsosternus auratus
Larva [43]
21
M. martiale
Elateridae
Hemirhipus sp.
Larva [44]
22
O. acicularis
Tenebrionidae
Nictobates
sp.
Larva [41]
23
O. aphodii
Scarabaeidae
Aphodius howitti, A. tasmaniae
Larva [45, 46]
24
O. arbuscula
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [47]
25
O. barnesii
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [41]
26
O. brunneipunctata
Elateridae
—
Larva [48]
27
O. carabidicola
Carabidae
—
Larva [49]
28
O. curculionum
Curculionidae
Heilipus celsus
Adult [41]
29
O. dovei
Cerambycidae
Oemona hirta
Larva [50]
30
O. elateridicola
Elateridae
—
Larva [33]
31
O. elongatiperitheciata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [51]
32
O. entomorrhiza
Carabidae    Cerambycidae Chrysomelidae Curculionidae StaphylinidaeTenebrionidae
Calathussp., Calosoma sp.,Carabus auronitens,C. coriaceus,C. glabratus,C. hortensis,C. intricatus,C. nemoralis, C. nemorensis,C. violaceus, Coptolabrussp., Hadrocarabus problematicus, Pterostichus sp.
Lepturasp.
Diabrotica sp.
Apion flavipes
Ocypus sp.
Meneristes laticollis
Larva, adult [41, 50, 52–57]
33
O. formosana
Tenebrionidae
—
Larva [58]
34
O. geniculata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [59]
35
O. gracilioides
Elateridae
—
Larva [59]
36
O. gracillima
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [60]
37
O. highlandensis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [61]
38
O. jiangxiensis
Elateridae
Campsosternus auratus, C. fruhstorferi
Larva [62]
39
O. konnoana
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [59]
40
O. larvicola
CerambycidaeScarabaeidaeTenebrionidae
Callidium sp.—
Cylindronotus sp., Helops  caraboides, H. lanipes
Larva [36, 50, 63]
41
O. macularis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [64]
42
O. melolonthae
Scarabaeidae
Ancyloncha puncticollis, Lachnosterna fusca, Melolontha sp.
Larva [41, 65]
43
O. michiganensis
CarabidaeScarabaeidae
—
Scarabaeus sp.
Larva [50, 66]
44
O. neovolkiana
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [50]
45
O. nigrella
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [33]
46
O. purpureostromata
Elateridae
—
Larva [51]
47
O. ravenelii
Scarabaeidae
Lachnosterna fusca,Phyllophagasp., Rhizotrogus sp.
Larva [65, 67, 68]
48
O. salebrosa
Elateridae
—
Adult [69]
49
O. scottiana
Lucanidae
Rhyssonotus nebulosus
Larva [26]
50
O. stylophora
CarabidaeCerambycidae Elateridae Scarabaeidae
—
Phoracantha semipunctata
Denticollis linearis
Costelytra zealandica
Larva [52, 70–72]
51
O. superficialis
ChrysomelidaeStaphylinidaeScarabaeidae
———
Larva [27, 49, 73]
52
O. variabilis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [73]
53
O. volkiana
Carabidae
Eripus heterogaster
Larva [37]
54
P. peltata
Curculionidae
Cryptorhynchus corticicolus
Larva [68]
55
S. palustris
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [37]


#### 4.1.2. Geotrupidae

Members of this family are commonly called earth-boring dung beetles, which mostly excavate burrows to lay their eggs. They are normally detritivores but occasionally behave as coprophagous.Cordyceps geotrupis is recorded on an adult ofGeotrupes sp. in this family (Table 1).


#### 4.1.3. Lucanidae

Members of this family are commonly called stag beetles. The name stag beetle is derived from the distinctive mandibles found on the males that resemble the antlers of stags. The larvae feed on rotting deciduous wood for several years before pupating.Ophiocordyceps scottiana is recorded onRhyssonotus nebulosus in this family (Table 1).


### 4.2. Superfamily Elateroidea

#### 4.2.1. Elateridae

Members of this family are commonly called click beetles, elaters, snapping beetles, spring beetles, skipjacks, and so forth. The adults are typically nocturnal and phytophagous. Larvae are slender, elongate, cylindrical, or somewhat flattened, with relatively hard bodies, somewhat resembling mealworms. Fifteen spp. ofCordyceps have been recorded from this family (Table 1), all of which grow on larvae exceptOphiocordyceps salebrosa that grows on an adult (Table 1). Six spp. are recorded on larvae of the following hosts:Cordyceps nirtolii onMelanotus communis,C. shanxiensis onM. caudex andPleonomus canaliculatus,Metarhizium campsosternionCampsosternus auratus,M. martiale onHemirhipus sp.,Ophiocordyceps jiangxiensisonC. auratus andC. fruhstorferi, andO. stylophoraonDenticollis linearis (Table 1). Other spp. recorded in this family areCordyceps aurantiaca,C. huntii,C. rubra,C. velutipes,Ophiocordyceps brunneipunctata,O. elateridicola,O. gracilioides,O. purpureostromata, andO. salebrosa (Table 1).


### 4.3. Superfamily Chrysomeloidea

#### 4.3.1. Cerambycidae

The long-horned beetles, also known as longicorns, are cosmopolitan, typically characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle’s body. The larvae, called roundheaded borers, bore into wood, where they can cause extensive damage to either living trees or untreated lumber. Four spp. are known from this family, all growing on larvae (Table1). They areOphiocordyceps dovei onOemona hirta,O. entomorrhiza onLeptura sp.,O. larvicolaonCallidium sp., andO. stylophoraonPhoracantha semipunctata.


#### 4.3.2. Chrysomelidae

The family, commonly known as leaf beetle, is one of the largest beetle families. Adults and larvae feed on all sorts of plant tissues. Most chrysomelids are conspicuously colored, typically in glossy yellow to red or metallic blue-green hues.Ophiocordyceps entomorrhizais recorded on adult ofDiabrotica sp. andO. superficialison a chrysomelid larva (Table 1).


### 4.4. Superfamily Cucujoidea

#### 4.4.1. Erotylidae

It is a family of the pleasing fungus beetles. They feed on plant and fungal matter, a few of them being notable pests.Cordyceps erotyliis recorded on adult ofErotylus sp. in this family (Table 1).


### 4.5. Superfamily Curculionoidea

#### 4.5.1. Curculionidae

It is the family of the true weevils or snout beetles. Weevils are almost entirely plant feeders.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on larva ofIps sexdentatus,Ophiocordyceps curculionum on adult ofHeilipus celsus,O. entomorrhiza on adult ofApion flavipes, andPodocrella peltata on larva ofCryptorhynchus corticicolus (Table 1).


### 4.6. Superfamily Tenebrionoidea

#### 4.6.1. Tenebrionidae

Tenebrionids are often referred to as darkling beetles as they have usually black or brown elytra and are nocturnal in habit. They are found worldwide though they are more diverse in semiarid and arid ecosystems. Adults of most species are saprophagous while larvae are mostly detritivores (litter feeders) or xylophagous. Five spp. are recorded on larvae of this family (Table1):C. militarisonTenebrio molitor,O. acicularisonNictobates sp.,O. entomorrhiza onMeneristes laticollis, andO. larvicolaonCylindronotus sp.,Helops caraboides, andH. lanipes.Ophiocordyceps formosanais the fifth species recorded on larva of this family.


### 4.7. Superfamily Staphylinoidea

#### 4.7.1. Staphylinidae

The rove beetles belong to family Staphylinidae, primarily distinguished by their short elytra. The group is currently recognized as the largest family of beetles. They are an ecologically and morphologically diverse group of beetles and commonly encountered in terrestrial ecosystems.Cordyceps memorabilis is recorded on adult ofStaphylinus sp. whereasOphiocordyceps entomorrhiza is recorded on larva ofOcypus sp.Cordyceps staphylinidicola andO. superficialis are other spp. recorded on larvae of this family (Table 1).


### 4.8. Superfamily Caraboidea

#### 4.8.1. Carabidae

It is a large, cosmopolitan family. Its members are commonly known as ground beetles. They are mostly shiny black or metallic and have ridged wing covers (elytra). Common habitats are under the bark of trees, under logs, or among rocks or sand by the edge of ponds and rivers. Six spp. are known from this family (Table1). Among them,O. entomorrhizais recorded on adults and larvae of several species such asCarabus auronitens,C. coriaceus,C. glabratus,C. hortensis,C.intricatus,C. nemoralis,C. nemorensis,C. violaceus,Calathus sp.,Calosoma sp.,Coptolabrus sp.,Hadrocarabus problematicus, andPterostichus sp.Ophiocordyceps volkianais recorded on larva ofEripus heterogaster.Cordyceps nikkoensis,Ophiocordyceps carabidicola,O. michiganensis, andO. stylophora are other species recorded on larvae of this family.Among the coleopteran families, Scarabaeidae is parasitized by the highest number ofCordyceps fungi (27 spp.), followed by Elateridae (15 spp.) (Table 1). Among 55 parasitizing fungi (Table 1), we found that only few parasitize more than one family. For example,Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza parasitizes 6 families, followed byO. stylophora (4 families),O. larvicola andO. superficialis (3 families each), andC. militaris,C. velutipes, andO. michiganensis (2 families each) (Table 1). From host range point of view,Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza shows the widest range, infecting 13 spp. in Carabidae and one sp. in each Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, and Tenebrionidae (Table 1). It is also exceptional in that it infects both larval and adult stages.As mentioned earlier, larva is the most dominant host stage susceptible toCordyceps pathogens in Coleoptera, with fewer adult stages being parasitized (Table 1). BesidesO. entomorrhiza, six other spp. are recorded on coleopteran adults. They areC. erotyli,C. geotrupis, C. memorabilis,O. curculionum,O. salebrosa, andC. scarabaeicola; the remaining ones are recorded on larvae.


## 4.1. Superfamily Scarabaeoidea

### 4.1.1. Scarabaeidae

This is one of the largest families in Coleoptera and its members are commonly called scarabs or scarab beetles. Scarabaeid larvae (commonly called grubs) are short, thick, pale yellow or white, mostly live underground or under debris, and feed on dead organic matter (scavengers). Twenty-sevenCordycepsspp. are recorded in this family (Table 1). Among them,C. brittlebankii is recorded onHeteronyxsp.,C. brongniartiionAnomala cuprea,C. coxiionLepidiota sp.,C. pseudoinsignisandC. velutipesonMelolontha sp.,Ophiocordyceps aphodii onAphodius howitti andA. tasmaniae,O. melolonthae onAncyloncha puncticollis,Lachnosterna fusca, andMelolontha sp.,O. michiganensis onScarabaeus sp.,O. raveneliionL. fusca,Phyllophagasp., andRhizotrogussp., andO. stylophoraonCostelytra zealandica (Table 1). Other species recorded in this family areC. obliquiordinata,C. scarabaeicola,Metarhizium brittlebankisoides,Ophiocordyceps arbuscula,O. barnesii,O. elongatiperitheciata,O. geniculata,O. gracillima,O. highlandensis,O. konnoana,O. larvicola,O. macularis,O. neovolkiana,O. nigrella,O. superficialis,O. variabilis, andSphaerocordyceps palustris(Table 1). Out of 27Cordycepsspp., 26 are recorded on larvae exceptC. scarabaeicola that is recorded on adult (Table 1).Table 1
An aggregate list of coleopteran hosts (family/genus/species) ofCordyceps species.
S number
Cordyceps sp.
Family
Genus/species
Host stage
1
C. aurantiaca
Elateridae
—
Larva [23]
2
C. brittlebankii
Scarabaeidae
Heteronyx sp.
Larva [24]
3
C. brongniartii
Scarabaeidae
Anomala cuprea
Larva [25]
4
C. coxii
Scarabaeidae
Lepidiota sp.
Larva [26]
5
C. erotyli
Erotylidae
Erotylus sp.
Adult [27]
6
C. geotrupis
Geotrupidae
Geotrupes sp.
Adult [28]
7
C. huntii
Elateridae
—
Larva [29]
8
C. memorabilis
Staphylinidae
Staphylinus sp.
Adult [30]
9
C. militaris
CurculionidaeTenebrionidae
Ips sexdentatus
Tenebrio molitor
Larva [31, 32]
10
C. nikkoensis
Carabidae
—
Larva [33]
11
C. nirtolii
Elateridae
Melanotus communis
Larva [34]
12
C. obliquiordinata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [35]
13
C. pseudoinsignis
Scarabaeidae
Melolontha sp.
Larva [36]
14
C. rubra
Elateridae
—
Larva [37]
15
C. scarabaeicola
Scarabaeidae
—
Adult [38]
16
C. shanxiensis
Elateridae
Melanotus caudex, Pleonomus canaliculatus
Larva [39]
17
C. staphylinidicola
Staphylinidae
—
Larva [40]
18
C. velutipes
ElateridaeScarabaeidae
—
Melolontha sp.
Larva [36, 41]
19
M. brittlebankisoides
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [42]
20
M. campsosterni
Elateridae
Campsosternus auratus
Larva [43]
21
M. martiale
Elateridae
Hemirhipus sp.
Larva [44]
22
O. acicularis
Tenebrionidae
Nictobates
sp.
Larva [41]
23
O. aphodii
Scarabaeidae
Aphodius howitti, A. tasmaniae
Larva [45, 46]
24
O. arbuscula
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [47]
25
O. barnesii
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [41]
26
O. brunneipunctata
Elateridae
—
Larva [48]
27
O. carabidicola
Carabidae
—
Larva [49]
28
O. curculionum
Curculionidae
Heilipus celsus
Adult [41]
29
O. dovei
Cerambycidae
Oemona hirta
Larva [50]
30
O. elateridicola
Elateridae
—
Larva [33]
31
O. elongatiperitheciata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [51]
32
O. entomorrhiza
Carabidae    Cerambycidae Chrysomelidae Curculionidae StaphylinidaeTenebrionidae
Calathussp., Calosoma sp.,Carabus auronitens,C. coriaceus,C. glabratus,C. hortensis,C. intricatus,C. nemoralis, C. nemorensis,C. violaceus, Coptolabrussp., Hadrocarabus problematicus, Pterostichus sp.
Lepturasp.
Diabrotica sp.
Apion flavipes
Ocypus sp.
Meneristes laticollis
Larva, adult [41, 50, 52–57]
33
O. formosana
Tenebrionidae
—
Larva [58]
34
O. geniculata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [59]
35
O. gracilioides
Elateridae
—
Larva [59]
36
O. gracillima
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [60]
37
O. highlandensis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [61]
38
O. jiangxiensis
Elateridae
Campsosternus auratus, C. fruhstorferi
Larva [62]
39
O. konnoana
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [59]
40
O. larvicola
CerambycidaeScarabaeidaeTenebrionidae
Callidium sp.—
Cylindronotus sp., Helops  caraboides, H. lanipes
Larva [36, 50, 63]
41
O. macularis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [64]
42
O. melolonthae
Scarabaeidae
Ancyloncha puncticollis, Lachnosterna fusca, Melolontha sp.
Larva [41, 65]
43
O. michiganensis
CarabidaeScarabaeidae
—
Scarabaeus sp.
Larva [50, 66]
44
O. neovolkiana
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [50]
45
O. nigrella
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [33]
46
O. purpureostromata
Elateridae
—
Larva [51]
47
O. ravenelii
Scarabaeidae
Lachnosterna fusca,Phyllophagasp., Rhizotrogus sp.
Larva [65, 67, 68]
48
O. salebrosa
Elateridae
—
Adult [69]
49
O. scottiana
Lucanidae
Rhyssonotus nebulosus
Larva [26]
50
O. stylophora
CarabidaeCerambycidae Elateridae Scarabaeidae
—
Phoracantha semipunctata
Denticollis linearis
Costelytra zealandica
Larva [52, 70–72]
51
O. superficialis
ChrysomelidaeStaphylinidaeScarabaeidae
———
Larva [27, 49, 73]
52
O. variabilis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [73]
53
O. volkiana
Carabidae
Eripus heterogaster
Larva [37]
54
P. peltata
Curculionidae
Cryptorhynchus corticicolus
Larva [68]
55
S. palustris
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [37]


### 4.1.2. Geotrupidae

Members of this family are commonly called earth-boring dung beetles, which mostly excavate burrows to lay their eggs. They are normally detritivores but occasionally behave as coprophagous.Cordyceps geotrupis is recorded on an adult ofGeotrupes sp. in this family (Table 1).


### 4.1.3. Lucanidae

Members of this family are commonly called stag beetles. The name stag beetle is derived from the distinctive mandibles found on the males that resemble the antlers of stags. The larvae feed on rotting deciduous wood for several years before pupating.Ophiocordyceps scottiana is recorded onRhyssonotus nebulosus in this family (Table 1).


## 4.1.1. Scarabaeidae

This is one of the largest families in Coleoptera and its members are commonly called scarabs or scarab beetles. Scarabaeid larvae (commonly called grubs) are short, thick, pale yellow or white, mostly live underground or under debris, and feed on dead organic matter (scavengers). Twenty-sevenCordycepsspp. are recorded in this family (Table 1). Among them,C. brittlebankii is recorded onHeteronyxsp.,C. brongniartiionAnomala cuprea,C. coxiionLepidiota sp.,C. pseudoinsignisandC. velutipesonMelolontha sp.,Ophiocordyceps aphodii onAphodius howitti andA. tasmaniae,O. melolonthae onAncyloncha puncticollis,Lachnosterna fusca, andMelolontha sp.,O. michiganensis onScarabaeus sp.,O. raveneliionL. fusca,Phyllophagasp., andRhizotrogussp., andO. stylophoraonCostelytra zealandica (Table 1). Other species recorded in this family areC. obliquiordinata,C. scarabaeicola,Metarhizium brittlebankisoides,Ophiocordyceps arbuscula,O. barnesii,O. elongatiperitheciata,O. geniculata,O. gracillima,O. highlandensis,O. konnoana,O. larvicola,O. macularis,O. neovolkiana,O. nigrella,O. superficialis,O. variabilis, andSphaerocordyceps palustris(Table 1). Out of 27Cordycepsspp., 26 are recorded on larvae exceptC. scarabaeicola that is recorded on adult (Table 1).Table 1
An aggregate list of coleopteran hosts (family/genus/species) ofCordyceps species.
S number
Cordyceps sp.
Family
Genus/species
Host stage
1
C. aurantiaca
Elateridae
—
Larva [23]
2
C. brittlebankii
Scarabaeidae
Heteronyx sp.
Larva [24]
3
C. brongniartii
Scarabaeidae
Anomala cuprea
Larva [25]
4
C. coxii
Scarabaeidae
Lepidiota sp.
Larva [26]
5
C. erotyli
Erotylidae
Erotylus sp.
Adult [27]
6
C. geotrupis
Geotrupidae
Geotrupes sp.
Adult [28]
7
C. huntii
Elateridae
—
Larva [29]
8
C. memorabilis
Staphylinidae
Staphylinus sp.
Adult [30]
9
C. militaris
CurculionidaeTenebrionidae
Ips sexdentatus
Tenebrio molitor
Larva [31, 32]
10
C. nikkoensis
Carabidae
—
Larva [33]
11
C. nirtolii
Elateridae
Melanotus communis
Larva [34]
12
C. obliquiordinata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [35]
13
C. pseudoinsignis
Scarabaeidae
Melolontha sp.
Larva [36]
14
C. rubra
Elateridae
—
Larva [37]
15
C. scarabaeicola
Scarabaeidae
—
Adult [38]
16
C. shanxiensis
Elateridae
Melanotus caudex, Pleonomus canaliculatus
Larva [39]
17
C. staphylinidicola
Staphylinidae
—
Larva [40]
18
C. velutipes
ElateridaeScarabaeidae
—
Melolontha sp.
Larva [36, 41]
19
M. brittlebankisoides
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [42]
20
M. campsosterni
Elateridae
Campsosternus auratus
Larva [43]
21
M. martiale
Elateridae
Hemirhipus sp.
Larva [44]
22
O. acicularis
Tenebrionidae
Nictobates
sp.
Larva [41]
23
O. aphodii
Scarabaeidae
Aphodius howitti, A. tasmaniae
Larva [45, 46]
24
O. arbuscula
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [47]
25
O. barnesii
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [41]
26
O. brunneipunctata
Elateridae
—
Larva [48]
27
O. carabidicola
Carabidae
—
Larva [49]
28
O. curculionum
Curculionidae
Heilipus celsus
Adult [41]
29
O. dovei
Cerambycidae
Oemona hirta
Larva [50]
30
O. elateridicola
Elateridae
—
Larva [33]
31
O. elongatiperitheciata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [51]
32
O. entomorrhiza
Carabidae    Cerambycidae Chrysomelidae Curculionidae StaphylinidaeTenebrionidae
Calathussp., Calosoma sp.,Carabus auronitens,C. coriaceus,C. glabratus,C. hortensis,C. intricatus,C. nemoralis, C. nemorensis,C. violaceus, Coptolabrussp., Hadrocarabus problematicus, Pterostichus sp.
Lepturasp.
Diabrotica sp.
Apion flavipes
Ocypus sp.
Meneristes laticollis
Larva, adult [41, 50, 52–57]
33
O. formosana
Tenebrionidae
—
Larva [58]
34
O. geniculata
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [59]
35
O. gracilioides
Elateridae
—
Larva [59]
36
O. gracillima
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [60]
37
O. highlandensis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [61]
38
O. jiangxiensis
Elateridae
Campsosternus auratus, C. fruhstorferi
Larva [62]
39
O. konnoana
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [59]
40
O. larvicola
CerambycidaeScarabaeidaeTenebrionidae
Callidium sp.—
Cylindronotus sp., Helops  caraboides, H. lanipes
Larva [36, 50, 63]
41
O. macularis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [64]
42
O. melolonthae
Scarabaeidae
Ancyloncha puncticollis, Lachnosterna fusca, Melolontha sp.
Larva [41, 65]
43
O. michiganensis
CarabidaeScarabaeidae
—
Scarabaeus sp.
Larva [50, 66]
44
O. neovolkiana
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [50]
45
O. nigrella
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [33]
46
O. purpureostromata
Elateridae
—
Larva [51]
47
O. ravenelii
Scarabaeidae
Lachnosterna fusca,Phyllophagasp., Rhizotrogus sp.
Larva [65, 67, 68]
48
O. salebrosa
Elateridae
—
Adult [69]
49
O. scottiana
Lucanidae
Rhyssonotus nebulosus
Larva [26]
50
O. stylophora
CarabidaeCerambycidae Elateridae Scarabaeidae
—
Phoracantha semipunctata
Denticollis linearis
Costelytra zealandica
Larva [52, 70–72]
51
O. superficialis
ChrysomelidaeStaphylinidaeScarabaeidae
———
Larva [27, 49, 73]
52
O. variabilis
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [73]
53
O. volkiana
Carabidae
Eripus heterogaster
Larva [37]
54
P. peltata
Curculionidae
Cryptorhynchus corticicolus
Larva [68]
55
S. palustris
Scarabaeidae
—
Larva [37]


## 4.1.2. Geotrupidae

Members of this family are commonly called earth-boring dung beetles, which mostly excavate burrows to lay their eggs. They are normally detritivores but occasionally behave as coprophagous.Cordyceps geotrupis is recorded on an adult ofGeotrupes sp. in this family (Table 1).


## 4.1.3. Lucanidae

Members of this family are commonly called stag beetles. The name stag beetle is derived from the distinctive mandibles found on the males that resemble the antlers of stags. The larvae feed on rotting deciduous wood for several years before pupating.Ophiocordyceps scottiana is recorded onRhyssonotus nebulosus in this family (Table 1).


## 4.2. Superfamily Elateroidea

### 4.2.1. Elateridae

Members of this family are commonly called click beetles, elaters, snapping beetles, spring beetles, skipjacks, and so forth. The adults are typically nocturnal and phytophagous. Larvae are slender, elongate, cylindrical, or somewhat flattened, with relatively hard bodies, somewhat resembling mealworms. Fifteen spp. ofCordyceps have been recorded from this family (Table 1), all of which grow on larvae exceptOphiocordyceps salebrosa that grows on an adult (Table 1). Six spp. are recorded on larvae of the following hosts:Cordyceps nirtolii onMelanotus communis,C. shanxiensis onM. caudex andPleonomus canaliculatus,Metarhizium campsosternionCampsosternus auratus,M. martiale onHemirhipus sp.,Ophiocordyceps jiangxiensisonC. auratus andC. fruhstorferi, andO. stylophoraonDenticollis linearis (Table 1). Other spp. recorded in this family areCordyceps aurantiaca,C. huntii,C. rubra,C. velutipes,Ophiocordyceps brunneipunctata,O. elateridicola,O. gracilioides,O. purpureostromata, andO. salebrosa (Table 1).


## 4.2.1. Elateridae

Members of this family are commonly called click beetles, elaters, snapping beetles, spring beetles, skipjacks, and so forth. The adults are typically nocturnal and phytophagous. Larvae are slender, elongate, cylindrical, or somewhat flattened, with relatively hard bodies, somewhat resembling mealworms. Fifteen spp. ofCordyceps have been recorded from this family (Table 1), all of which grow on larvae exceptOphiocordyceps salebrosa that grows on an adult (Table 1). Six spp. are recorded on larvae of the following hosts:Cordyceps nirtolii onMelanotus communis,C. shanxiensis onM. caudex andPleonomus canaliculatus,Metarhizium campsosternionCampsosternus auratus,M. martiale onHemirhipus sp.,Ophiocordyceps jiangxiensisonC. auratus andC. fruhstorferi, andO. stylophoraonDenticollis linearis (Table 1). Other spp. recorded in this family areCordyceps aurantiaca,C. huntii,C. rubra,C. velutipes,Ophiocordyceps brunneipunctata,O. elateridicola,O. gracilioides,O. purpureostromata, andO. salebrosa (Table 1).


## 4.3. Superfamily Chrysomeloidea

### 4.3.1. Cerambycidae

The long-horned beetles, also known as longicorns, are cosmopolitan, typically characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle’s body. The larvae, called roundheaded borers, bore into wood, where they can cause extensive damage to either living trees or untreated lumber. Four spp. are known from this family, all growing on larvae (Table1). They areOphiocordyceps dovei onOemona hirta,O. entomorrhiza onLeptura sp.,O. larvicolaonCallidium sp., andO. stylophoraonPhoracantha semipunctata.


### 4.3.2. Chrysomelidae

The family, commonly known as leaf beetle, is one of the largest beetle families. Adults and larvae feed on all sorts of plant tissues. Most chrysomelids are conspicuously colored, typically in glossy yellow to red or metallic blue-green hues.Ophiocordyceps entomorrhizais recorded on adult ofDiabrotica sp. andO. superficialison a chrysomelid larva (Table 1).


## 4.3.1. Cerambycidae

The long-horned beetles, also known as longicorns, are cosmopolitan, typically characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle’s body. The larvae, called roundheaded borers, bore into wood, where they can cause extensive damage to either living trees or untreated lumber. Four spp. are known from this family, all growing on larvae (Table1). They areOphiocordyceps dovei onOemona hirta,O. entomorrhiza onLeptura sp.,O. larvicolaonCallidium sp., andO. stylophoraonPhoracantha semipunctata.


## 4.3.2. Chrysomelidae

The family, commonly known as leaf beetle, is one of the largest beetle families. Adults and larvae feed on all sorts of plant tissues. Most chrysomelids are conspicuously colored, typically in glossy yellow to red or metallic blue-green hues.Ophiocordyceps entomorrhizais recorded on adult ofDiabrotica sp. andO. superficialison a chrysomelid larva (Table 1).


## 4.4. Superfamily Cucujoidea

### 4.4.1. Erotylidae

It is a family of the pleasing fungus beetles. They feed on plant and fungal matter, a few of them being notable pests.Cordyceps erotyliis recorded on adult ofErotylus sp. in this family (Table 1).


## 4.4.1. Erotylidae

It is a family of the pleasing fungus beetles. They feed on plant and fungal matter, a few of them being notable pests.Cordyceps erotyliis recorded on adult ofErotylus sp. in this family (Table 1).


## 4.5. Superfamily Curculionoidea

### 4.5.1. Curculionidae

It is the family of the true weevils or snout beetles. Weevils are almost entirely plant feeders.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on larva ofIps sexdentatus,Ophiocordyceps curculionum on adult ofHeilipus celsus,O. entomorrhiza on adult ofApion flavipes, andPodocrella peltata on larva ofCryptorhynchus corticicolus (Table 1).


## 4.5.1. Curculionidae

It is the family of the true weevils or snout beetles. Weevils are almost entirely plant feeders.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on larva ofIps sexdentatus,Ophiocordyceps curculionum on adult ofHeilipus celsus,O. entomorrhiza on adult ofApion flavipes, andPodocrella peltata on larva ofCryptorhynchus corticicolus (Table 1).


## 4.6. Superfamily Tenebrionoidea

### 4.6.1. Tenebrionidae

Tenebrionids are often referred to as darkling beetles as they have usually black or brown elytra and are nocturnal in habit. They are found worldwide though they are more diverse in semiarid and arid ecosystems. Adults of most species are saprophagous while larvae are mostly detritivores (litter feeders) or xylophagous. Five spp. are recorded on larvae of this family (Table1):C. militarisonTenebrio molitor,O. acicularisonNictobates sp.,O. entomorrhiza onMeneristes laticollis, andO. larvicolaonCylindronotus sp.,Helops caraboides, andH. lanipes.Ophiocordyceps formosanais the fifth species recorded on larva of this family.


## 4.6.1. Tenebrionidae

Tenebrionids are often referred to as darkling beetles as they have usually black or brown elytra and are nocturnal in habit. They are found worldwide though they are more diverse in semiarid and arid ecosystems. Adults of most species are saprophagous while larvae are mostly detritivores (litter feeders) or xylophagous. Five spp. are recorded on larvae of this family (Table1):C. militarisonTenebrio molitor,O. acicularisonNictobates sp.,O. entomorrhiza onMeneristes laticollis, andO. larvicolaonCylindronotus sp.,Helops caraboides, andH. lanipes.Ophiocordyceps formosanais the fifth species recorded on larva of this family.


## 4.7. Superfamily Staphylinoidea

### 4.7.1. Staphylinidae

The rove beetles belong to family Staphylinidae, primarily distinguished by their short elytra. The group is currently recognized as the largest family of beetles. They are an ecologically and morphologically diverse group of beetles and commonly encountered in terrestrial ecosystems.Cordyceps memorabilis is recorded on adult ofStaphylinus sp. whereasOphiocordyceps entomorrhiza is recorded on larva ofOcypus sp.Cordyceps staphylinidicola andO. superficialis are other spp. recorded on larvae of this family (Table 1).


## 4.7.1. Staphylinidae

The rove beetles belong to family Staphylinidae, primarily distinguished by their short elytra. The group is currently recognized as the largest family of beetles. They are an ecologically and morphologically diverse group of beetles and commonly encountered in terrestrial ecosystems.Cordyceps memorabilis is recorded on adult ofStaphylinus sp. whereasOphiocordyceps entomorrhiza is recorded on larva ofOcypus sp.Cordyceps staphylinidicola andO. superficialis are other spp. recorded on larvae of this family (Table 1).


## 4.8. Superfamily Caraboidea

### 4.8.1. Carabidae

It is a large, cosmopolitan family. Its members are commonly known as ground beetles. They are mostly shiny black or metallic and have ridged wing covers (elytra). Common habitats are under the bark of trees, under logs, or among rocks or sand by the edge of ponds and rivers. Six spp. are known from this family (Table1). Among them,O. entomorrhizais recorded on adults and larvae of several species such asCarabus auronitens,C. coriaceus,C. glabratus,C. hortensis,C.intricatus,C. nemoralis,C. nemorensis,C. violaceus,Calathus sp.,Calosoma sp.,Coptolabrus sp.,Hadrocarabus problematicus, andPterostichus sp.Ophiocordyceps volkianais recorded on larva ofEripus heterogaster.Cordyceps nikkoensis,Ophiocordyceps carabidicola,O. michiganensis, andO. stylophora are other species recorded on larvae of this family.Among the coleopteran families, Scarabaeidae is parasitized by the highest number ofCordyceps fungi (27 spp.), followed by Elateridae (15 spp.) (Table 1). Among 55 parasitizing fungi (Table 1), we found that only few parasitize more than one family. For example,Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza parasitizes 6 families, followed byO. stylophora (4 families),O. larvicola andO. superficialis (3 families each), andC. militaris,C. velutipes, andO. michiganensis (2 families each) (Table 1). From host range point of view,Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza shows the widest range, infecting 13 spp. in Carabidae and one sp. in each Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, and Tenebrionidae (Table 1). It is also exceptional in that it infects both larval and adult stages.As mentioned earlier, larva is the most dominant host stage susceptible toCordyceps pathogens in Coleoptera, with fewer adult stages being parasitized (Table 1). BesidesO. entomorrhiza, six other spp. are recorded on coleopteran adults. They areC. erotyli,C. geotrupis, C. memorabilis,O. curculionum,O. salebrosa, andC. scarabaeicola; the remaining ones are recorded on larvae.


## 4.8.1. Carabidae

It is a large, cosmopolitan family. Its members are commonly known as ground beetles. They are mostly shiny black or metallic and have ridged wing covers (elytra). Common habitats are under the bark of trees, under logs, or among rocks or sand by the edge of ponds and rivers. Six spp. are known from this family (Table1). Among them,O. entomorrhizais recorded on adults and larvae of several species such asCarabus auronitens,C. coriaceus,C. glabratus,C. hortensis,C.intricatus,C. nemoralis,C. nemorensis,C. violaceus,Calathus sp.,Calosoma sp.,Coptolabrus sp.,Hadrocarabus problematicus, andPterostichus sp.Ophiocordyceps volkianais recorded on larva ofEripus heterogaster.Cordyceps nikkoensis,Ophiocordyceps carabidicola,O. michiganensis, andO. stylophora are other species recorded on larvae of this family.Among the coleopteran families, Scarabaeidae is parasitized by the highest number ofCordyceps fungi (27 spp.), followed by Elateridae (15 spp.) (Table 1). Among 55 parasitizing fungi (Table 1), we found that only few parasitize more than one family. For example,Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza parasitizes 6 families, followed byO. stylophora (4 families),O. larvicola andO. superficialis (3 families each), andC. militaris,C. velutipes, andO. michiganensis (2 families each) (Table 1). From host range point of view,Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza shows the widest range, infecting 13 spp. in Carabidae and one sp. in each Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae, Staphylinidae, and Tenebrionidae (Table 1). It is also exceptional in that it infects both larval and adult stages.As mentioned earlier, larva is the most dominant host stage susceptible toCordyceps pathogens in Coleoptera, with fewer adult stages being parasitized (Table 1). BesidesO. entomorrhiza, six other spp. are recorded on coleopteran adults. They areC. erotyli,C. geotrupis, C. memorabilis,O. curculionum,O. salebrosa, andC. scarabaeicola; the remaining ones are recorded on larvae.


## 5. Lepidopteran Hosts

Lepidoptera is among the large orders of insects [121]. It has around 160,000 spp. that are classified into 4 suborders, 45 superfamilies, and 139 families [122]. Out of four suborders (Aglossata, Glossata, Heterobathmiina, and Zeugloptera),Cordyceps and allied genera are known only from Glossata. It is the largest suborder consisting of almost 99.9% of all described lepidopterans [122, 123]. It is further classified into six infraorders (Dacnonypha, Acanthoctesia, Lophocoronina, Neopseustina, Exoporia, and Heteroneura) [122]. Among them,Cordyceps hosts are known from two infraorders Exoporia and Heteroneura.Lepidopterans have from three to more than a dozen larval instars (caterpillars), often five [123, 124], inhabiting as root- or stem-borers or foliage eaters and leaf-miners of angiosperms, usually within narrow range of host plants. Lepidopterans have distinct feeding habits, basically plant-feeding during larval stage and nectar-feeding during adult stage. Exoporia and Heteroneura are discussed below in short, followed byCordyceps pathogens parasitizing them.


### 5.1. Infraorder Exoporia

It is a small infraorder consisting of 636 spp. that are classified into 2 superfamilies [122].Cordyceps and allied genera are recorded only from the superfamily Hepialoidea. The superfamily comprises five families that are distributed in diverse vegetation such as forest, shrubland, grassland, tundra, swamp, and bog with the most varied diet habit among moth families [123, 125]. Among the families,Cordyceps spp. are recorded from family Hepialidae alone (Table 2).Table 2
Cordyceps species recorded on hepialid hosts (Lepidoptera, Glossata, Exoporia, and Hepialidae).
S number
Cordyceps species
Genus/species
Host stage
1
C. cranstounii
Oxycanus dirempta, Abantiadessp.
Larva [86]
2
C. cuncunae
—
Larva [87]
3
C. hawkesii
Oxycanus sp., Trictena sp., Abantiades sp.
Larva [26, 86]
4
C. hepialidicola
Endoclita excrescens
Larva [88]
5
C. kurijimeansis
Thitarodes armoricanus
Larva [34]
6
C. militaris
Hepialussp.
Larva, pupa [89]
7
D. gunnii
Abantiades labyrinthicus, Aoraia enysii,  Oxycanus sp., Trictena atripalpis
Larva, pupa [26, 46, 86]
8
O. crassispora
Thitarodes baimaensis
Larva [90]
9
O. emeiensis
—
Larva [91]
10
O. gracilis
Ahamus altaicola, Hepialus humuli,  Korscheltellus lupulina, Parahepialus nebulosus
Larva [57, 92]
11
O. robertsii
Aenetus virescens, Aoraia dinodes,A. ensyii, Dasypodia selenophora, Wiseana spp.
Larva [46, 93, 94]
12
O. sinensis
Ahamus anomopterus, A. gangcaensis, A. jianchuanensis, A. lijiangensis, A. luquensis, A. maquensis, A. sichuanus, A. yulongensis, A. yunlongensis, A. yunnanensis, A. yushuensis, A. zadoiensis, A. zhayuensis, Bipectilus yunnanensis, Endoclita davidi, Gazoryctra ganna, Hepialus  xiaojinensis, Magnificus  jiuzhiensis, M.  zhiduoensis, Parahepialus nebulosus, Pharmacis  carna, P. fusconebulosa, P. pyrenaicus, Thitarodes albipictus, T. armoricanus, T. baimaensis, T. baqingensis, T. bibelteus, T. biruensis, T. callinivalis, T. cingulatus, T. damxungensis, T. deqinensis, T. dongyuensis, T. ferrugineus, T. gonggaensis, T. jialangensis, T. jinshaensis, T. kangdingensis, T. kangdingroides, T. latitegumenus, T. litangensis, T. markamensis, T. meiliensis, T. namensis, T. namlinensis, T. oblifurcus, T. pratensis, T. pui, T. renzhiensis, T. varians, T. xunhuaensis, T. yeriensis, T. zaliensis, T. zhongzhiensis
Larva [95, 96]
13
O. taylorii
Trictena sp.
Pupa [86]
14
O. lanpingensis
Ahamus jianchuanensis, A. yunnanensis
Larva [97]
15
O. laojunshanensis
Ahamus yunnanensis
Larva [98]
16
O. ramosissimum
Endoclita nodus
Larva [99]
17
O. xuefengensis
Endoclita nodus
Larva [76]Ophiocordyceps sinensis has the widest host range recorded on Hepialidae, covering 55 spp. [95, 96]. Among them,Thitarodes andAhamus are the two major genera (Table 2). Thirty-two spp. ofThitarodes (T. albipictus,T. armoricanus, T. baimaensis,T. baqingensis, T. bibelteus,T. biruensis, T. callinivalis, T. cingulatus, T. damxungensis, T. deqinensis, T. dongyuensis, T. ferrugineus, T. gonggaensis, T. jialangensis, T. jinshaensis, T. kangdingensis, T. kangdingroides, T. latitegumenus, T. litangensis, T. markamensis, T. meiliensis, T. namensis, T. namlinensis, T. oblifurcus, T. pratensis, T. pui, T. renzhiensis, T. varians, T. xunhuaensis, T. yeriensis, T. zaliensis, andT. zhongzhiensis) and 13 spp. ofAhamus (A. anomopterus, A. gangcaensis, A. jianchuanensis, A. lijiangensis, A. luquensis, A. maquensis, A. sichuanus, A. yulongensis, A. yunlongensis, A. yunnanensis, A. yushuensis, A. zadoiensis, andA. zhayuensis) are the host species ofOphiocordyceps sinensis (Table 2). The other host species arePharmacis carna,P. fusconebulosa,P. pyrenaicus,Magnificus jiuzhiensis,M. zhiduoensis,Bipectilus yunnanensis,Endoclita davidi,Gazoryctra ganna,Parahepialus nebulosus, andHepialus xiaojinensis (Table 2).There are other species that share similar hosts asOphiocordyceps sinensis. For example,O. crassispora andC. kurijimeansis are recorded onThitarodes baimaensis andT. armoricanus, respectively (Table 2).Ophiocordyceps gracilis,O. lanpingensis, andO. laojunshanensis are recorded onAhamus altaicola,A. jianchuanensis, andA. yunnanensis, respectively (Table 2).Ophiocordyceps gracilis is also recorded on three more hostsHepialus humuli,Korscheltellus lupulina, andParahepialus nebulosus. Similarly,Cordyceps hepialidicola is reported onEndoclita excrescens andO. ramosissimum andO. xuefengensis onEndoclita nodus (Table 2).Many species are recorded in Australia and New Zealand on hepialid hosts. For instance,Cordyceps cranstounii,C. hawkesii,D. gunnii,O. robertsii, andO. taylorii are recorded onAbantiades labyrinthicusand otherAbantiades spp.,Aenetus virescens,Aoraia dinodes,A. ensyii,Dasypodia selenophora,Oxycanus dirempta, and otherOxycanus spp.,Trictena atripalpis and otherTrictena spp.,Wiseana spp., and so forth (Table 2). AnotherCordyceps sp. rarely described onHepialus isC. militaris (Table 2). Besides that,Cordyceps cuncunae andO. emeiensis are also recorded on hepialid hosts (Table 2).


### 5.2. Infraorder Heteroneura

This infraorder consists of more than 98% of lepidopteran species [122]. Nine superfamilies among more than 30 in the infraorder are recorded as hosts ofCordyceps spp. Among the host families, Tineidae is the only microlepidopteran family; the rest are macrolepidopterans. Papilionidae and Pieridae are the two butterfly families, the rest being moths. The host families are briefly described below followed byCordyceps spp. recorded on them.


#### 5.2.1. Superfamily Noctuoidea

(1) Erebidae. It is the largest family in Lepidoptera with 24,569 described spp. [122]. Despite the high species richness, only twoCordyceps spp. are recorded on this family. Of them,C. militaris is recorded onCalliteara pudibunda andLeucoma salicis whereasC. nikkoensis is reported on a larva of the family (Table 3).Table 3
Cordyceps species recorded on heteroneuran hosts (Lepidoptera, Glossata, and Heteroneura).
S number
Cordyceps sp.
Host family
Host genus/species
Host stage
1
C. alpicola
Noctuidae
—
Larva [38]
2
C. bassiana
Cossidae
—
Larva [100]
3
C. bifusispora
Noctuidae
—
Pupa [101]
4
C. bulolensis
Noctuidae
—
Larva [38]
5
C. cardinalis
Tineidae
—
Larva [102]
6
C. cristata
Noctuidae
—
Adult [37]
7
C. flavobrunnescens
Sphingidae
—
Pupa [50]
8
C. kyusyuensis
Sphingidae
Clanis bilineata
Larva [103]
9
C. longdongensis
Saturniidae
Actias artemis
Pupa [91]
10
C. michaelisii
Bombycidae
Bombyx sp.
Pupa [104]
11
C. militaris
BombycidaeEndromidaeErebidae  Drepanidae Geometridae Lasiocampidae NoctuidaeNotodontidaeSaturniidae Sphingidae
Bombyx mori
Andraca bipunctata
Calliteara pudibunda, Leucoma salicis
Achlya flavicornis, Ochropacha duplaris, Tethea ocularis, Tetheella fluctuosa
Biston panterinaria, Lycia hirtaria
Dendrolimus pini, D. superans, Macrothylacia rubi
Arcte coerula, Colocasia coryli, Euxoa ochrogaster, Panolis flammea
Fentonia ocypete, Lampronadata cristata, Phalera assimilis, P. bucephala, Syntypistis punctatella
Anisota senatoria
Callambulyx tatarinovii, Laothoe populi, Marumba sperchius, Mimas tiliae, Hyles euphorbiae, Sphinx pinastri
Larva, pupa [31, 32, 50, 105–113]
12
C. nikkoensis
Erebidae
—
Larva [50]
13
C. polyarthra
Sphingidae
—
Larva, pupa [37]
14
C. riverae
Geometridae
Triphosa sp.
Adult [114]
15
C. taishanensis
Sphingidae
Clanis bilineata
Larva [115]
16
C. tuberculata
NoctuidaePapilionidae Sphingidae
——
Amphipyra effusa, Amphonyx duponchel, A. jatrophae, Anceryx ello, Cocytius sp., Macroglossum insipida,Sphinx pinastri
Adult [50, 116–118]
17
M. indigoticum
Cossidae
Yakudza vicarius
Larva [119]
18
M. taii
Pieridae
Pieris rapae
Larva [57]
19
O. cochlidiicola
Limacodidae
—
Larva, pupa [51]
20
O. elongata
Noctuidae
Acronicta americana
Larva, pupa [27]
21
O. arborescens
Cossidae
Cossus sp.
Larva [120]
22
O. macroacicularis
Cossidae
Cossus sp.
Larva [120](2) Noctuidae. It is commonly known as owlet moths.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 4 spp. of this family:Arcte coerula, Colocasia coryli, Euxoa ochrogaster, andPanolis flammea (Table 3).Ophiocordyceps elongata is recorded onAcronicta americana. Other species recorded in this family areCordyceps alpicola, C. bifusispora, C. bulolensis, C. cristata, andC. tuberculata (Table 3).(3) Notodontidae. Its members are mainly concentrated in the tropical areas. Some examples of this family are puss moths.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 5 spp. of this family. They areFentonia ocypete,Lampronadata cristata,Phalera assimilis,P. bucephala, andSyntypistis punctatella (Table 3).


#### 5.2.2. Superfamily Zygaenoidea

(1) Limacodidae (Cochlididae). The members of this family are known as slug moths and are mostly tropical.Ophiocordyceps cochlidiicola is recorded on larva and pupa of this family (Table 3).


#### 5.2.3. Superfamily Cossoidea

(1) Cossidae. The members are known as carpenter millers and are found worldwide. Four spp. are recorded in this family. Of them,Metarhizium indigoticum is recorded onYakudza vicarius. Two recently described spp.,Ophiocordyceps arborescens andO. macroacicularis, are recorded onCossus sp. (Table 3). The other species recorded on this family isCordyceps bassiana.


#### 5.2.4. Superfamily Drepanoidea

(1) Drepanidae. The members of this family have worldwide distribution.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 4 spp. of this family:Achlya flavicornis,Ochropacha duplaris,Tethea ocularis, andTetheella fluctuosa (Table 3).


#### 5.2.5. Superfamily Tineoidea

(1) Tineidae. The members are small to medium-sized moths. They are worldwide in distribution but are particularly common in the Palaeartic ecozone.Cordyceps cardinalis is recorded on larva of this family (Table 3).


#### 5.2.6. Superfamily Papilionoidea

(1) Papilionidae. It is a family of colorful swallowtail butterflies. Some of the members are the largest butterflies in the world. The majority are distributed in the tropical region.Cordyceps tuberculata is reported on adult of this family (Table 3).(2) Pieridae. It is a large family of butterfly, mostly distributed in the tropical parts of the world. Its members are mostly white, orange, or yellow in pigmentation.Metarhizium taii is reported onPieris rapae in this family (Table 3).


#### 5.2.7. Superfamily Geometroidea

(1) Geometridae. It is the second largest family in Lepidoptera with 23,002 spp. [122]. It is commonly known as inch worms. Some of the members are notorious pests.Cordyceps militaris andC. riverae are recorded from this family parasitizingBiston panterinaria,Lycia hirtaria, andTriphosa sp. (Table 3).


#### 5.2.8. Superfamily Bombycoidea

(1) Bombycidae. It is known as silkworm family. The most well-known member isBombyx mori, native to northern China.Cordyceps militaris is recorded onB. mori andC. michaelisii on a species ofBombyx (Table 3).(2) Endromidae. This is a small family.Cordyceps militaris is recorded onAndraca bipunctata in this family (Table 3).(3) Saturniidae. The members include giant silk moths, royal moths, and emperor moths. They are described worldwide but are particularly known from tropical and subtropical regions. Some of the members are the largest moth species.Cordyceps longdongensis parasitizesActias artemis whereasC. militaris parasitizesAnisota senatoria (Table 3).(4) Sphingidae. The members of this family are commonly known as hawk moths or sphinx moths. They are moderate to large in size and are mainly described from the tropical parts.Cordyceps militarisis recorded on various species in this family such asCallambulyx tatarinovii,Laothoe populi,Marumba sperchius,Mimas tiliae,Hyles euphorbiae, andSphinx pinastri andC. tuberculataonAmphipyra effusa,Amphonyx duponchel,A. jatrophae,Anceryx ello,Cocytius sp.,Macroglossum insipida, andS. pinastri. Two other spp.Cordyceps kyusyuensis andC. taishanensis are recorded onClanis bilineata.Cordyceps flavobrunnescens andC. polyarthra are other spp. recorded from this family.


#### 5.2.9. Superfamily Lasiocampoidea

(1) Lasiocampidae. Its members are known as snout moths or lappet moths. They are large in size with broad wings and are known worldwide.Cordyceps militaris is reported onDendrolimus pini,D. superans, andMacrothylacia rubi (Table 3).Out of 22 spp. recorded on heteroneuran hosts (Table3),C. militaris has the widest host range, extending to 2 infraorders, 6 superfamilies, 10 families, and 29 spp. (Table 3). It is a cosmopolitan species, distributed from sea level to more than 2000 m above sea level [126]. Probably due to its wide host range and adaptability to wider habitats, this species demonstrates rapidin vitro growth and fructifications [127].Cordyceps tuberculata is another species recorded on multiple families. Larva is the most suitable host forCordyceps spp. compared to pupa and adult (Table 3).In total, 16 families in Lepidoptera (1 exoporian and 15 heteroneuran) are identified as host families ofCordyceps and allied genera. Hepialidae, though a small family, hosts 6Cordyceps spp., 1Drechmeria sp., and 10Ophiocordyceps spp. (Table 2). They are mostly distributed in either Asia or Australia/New Zealand. After Hepialidae, Noctuidae and Sphingidae are the families mostly infected byCordyceps spp. (Table 3).Among heteroneuran families, Notodontidae, Drepanidae, and Lasiocampidae are known as hosts ofC. militaris only (Table 3). Similarly, there are families identified as hosts for singleCordyceps/Ophiocordyceps spp., for example, Limacodidae (Cochlididae) forO. cochlidiicola, Tineidae forC. cardinalis, Papilionidae forC. tuberculata, and Pieridae forC. taii. In general, 11 families are known for just one or twoCordyceps spp. (Table 3). On the other hand, a single host species is infected by two spp. such asClanis bilineata byCordyceps kyusyuensis andC. taishanensis,Sphinx pinastri byC. militaris andC. tuberculata,Ahamus yunnanensis byOphiocordyceps lanpingensis andO. laojunshanensis, andEndoclita nodus byO. ramosissimum andO. xuefengensis. From species richness point of view, Erebidae, Geometridae, and Noctuidae are the biggest families in Lepidoptera that occupy nearly 40% of the total lepidopterans [122]. However, they are reported with fewerCordyceps pathogens. For instance, only twoCordyceps spp. are recorded on each Erebidae and Geometridae, proportionately more on Noctuidae (7 spp.) (Table 3). In addition to Coleoptera and Lepidoptera,C. militaris is recorded on two more orders Diptera and Hymenoptera [126]. Similarly, the only other species growing on two orders Lepidoptera and Coleoptera isC. nikkoensis.The analysis in the present review is based on the coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts that are identified at family or infrafamily ranks in the literature. Out of estimated 200 spp. reported on coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts, we have enlisted 92 spp. based on their host records in the literature. We could not include the remaining species because of lack of information on infraorder ranks of their hosts. Though the list is not complete for all Coleoptera and lepidopteran hosts, the overall scenario of the taxonomic distributions of the hosts within Coleoptera and Lepidoptera can be viewed in the present review.


## 5.1. Infraorder Exoporia

It is a small infraorder consisting of 636 spp. that are classified into 2 superfamilies [122].Cordyceps and allied genera are recorded only from the superfamily Hepialoidea. The superfamily comprises five families that are distributed in diverse vegetation such as forest, shrubland, grassland, tundra, swamp, and bog with the most varied diet habit among moth families [123, 125]. Among the families,Cordyceps spp. are recorded from family Hepialidae alone (Table 2).Table 2
Cordyceps species recorded on hepialid hosts (Lepidoptera, Glossata, Exoporia, and Hepialidae).
S number
Cordyceps species
Genus/species
Host stage
1
C. cranstounii
Oxycanus dirempta, Abantiadessp.
Larva [86]
2
C. cuncunae
—
Larva [87]
3
C. hawkesii
Oxycanus sp., Trictena sp., Abantiades sp.
Larva [26, 86]
4
C. hepialidicola
Endoclita excrescens
Larva [88]
5
C. kurijimeansis
Thitarodes armoricanus
Larva [34]
6
C. militaris
Hepialussp.
Larva, pupa [89]
7
D. gunnii
Abantiades labyrinthicus, Aoraia enysii,  Oxycanus sp., Trictena atripalpis
Larva, pupa [26, 46, 86]
8
O. crassispora
Thitarodes baimaensis
Larva [90]
9
O. emeiensis
—
Larva [91]
10
O. gracilis
Ahamus altaicola, Hepialus humuli,  Korscheltellus lupulina, Parahepialus nebulosus
Larva [57, 92]
11
O. robertsii
Aenetus virescens, Aoraia dinodes,A. ensyii, Dasypodia selenophora, Wiseana spp.
Larva [46, 93, 94]
12
O. sinensis
Ahamus anomopterus, A. gangcaensis, A. jianchuanensis, A. lijiangensis, A. luquensis, A. maquensis, A. sichuanus, A. yulongensis, A. yunlongensis, A. yunnanensis, A. yushuensis, A. zadoiensis, A. zhayuensis, Bipectilus yunnanensis, Endoclita davidi, Gazoryctra ganna, Hepialus  xiaojinensis, Magnificus  jiuzhiensis, M.  zhiduoensis, Parahepialus nebulosus, Pharmacis  carna, P. fusconebulosa, P. pyrenaicus, Thitarodes albipictus, T. armoricanus, T. baimaensis, T. baqingensis, T. bibelteus, T. biruensis, T. callinivalis, T. cingulatus, T. damxungensis, T. deqinensis, T. dongyuensis, T. ferrugineus, T. gonggaensis, T. jialangensis, T. jinshaensis, T. kangdingensis, T. kangdingroides, T. latitegumenus, T. litangensis, T. markamensis, T. meiliensis, T. namensis, T. namlinensis, T. oblifurcus, T. pratensis, T. pui, T. renzhiensis, T. varians, T. xunhuaensis, T. yeriensis, T. zaliensis, T. zhongzhiensis
Larva [95, 96]
13
O. taylorii
Trictena sp.
Pupa [86]
14
O. lanpingensis
Ahamus jianchuanensis, A. yunnanensis
Larva [97]
15
O. laojunshanensis
Ahamus yunnanensis
Larva [98]
16
O. ramosissimum
Endoclita nodus
Larva [99]
17
O. xuefengensis
Endoclita nodus
Larva [76]Ophiocordyceps sinensis has the widest host range recorded on Hepialidae, covering 55 spp. [95, 96]. Among them,Thitarodes andAhamus are the two major genera (Table 2). Thirty-two spp. ofThitarodes (T. albipictus,T. armoricanus, T. baimaensis,T. baqingensis, T. bibelteus,T. biruensis, T. callinivalis, T. cingulatus, T. damxungensis, T. deqinensis, T. dongyuensis, T. ferrugineus, T. gonggaensis, T. jialangensis, T. jinshaensis, T. kangdingensis, T. kangdingroides, T. latitegumenus, T. litangensis, T. markamensis, T. meiliensis, T. namensis, T. namlinensis, T. oblifurcus, T. pratensis, T. pui, T. renzhiensis, T. varians, T. xunhuaensis, T. yeriensis, T. zaliensis, andT. zhongzhiensis) and 13 spp. ofAhamus (A. anomopterus, A. gangcaensis, A. jianchuanensis, A. lijiangensis, A. luquensis, A. maquensis, A. sichuanus, A. yulongensis, A. yunlongensis, A. yunnanensis, A. yushuensis, A. zadoiensis, andA. zhayuensis) are the host species ofOphiocordyceps sinensis (Table 2). The other host species arePharmacis carna,P. fusconebulosa,P. pyrenaicus,Magnificus jiuzhiensis,M. zhiduoensis,Bipectilus yunnanensis,Endoclita davidi,Gazoryctra ganna,Parahepialus nebulosus, andHepialus xiaojinensis (Table 2).There are other species that share similar hosts asOphiocordyceps sinensis. For example,O. crassispora andC. kurijimeansis are recorded onThitarodes baimaensis andT. armoricanus, respectively (Table 2).Ophiocordyceps gracilis,O. lanpingensis, andO. laojunshanensis are recorded onAhamus altaicola,A. jianchuanensis, andA. yunnanensis, respectively (Table 2).Ophiocordyceps gracilis is also recorded on three more hostsHepialus humuli,Korscheltellus lupulina, andParahepialus nebulosus. Similarly,Cordyceps hepialidicola is reported onEndoclita excrescens andO. ramosissimum andO. xuefengensis onEndoclita nodus (Table 2).Many species are recorded in Australia and New Zealand on hepialid hosts. For instance,Cordyceps cranstounii,C. hawkesii,D. gunnii,O. robertsii, andO. taylorii are recorded onAbantiades labyrinthicusand otherAbantiades spp.,Aenetus virescens,Aoraia dinodes,A. ensyii,Dasypodia selenophora,Oxycanus dirempta, and otherOxycanus spp.,Trictena atripalpis and otherTrictena spp.,Wiseana spp., and so forth (Table 2). AnotherCordyceps sp. rarely described onHepialus isC. militaris (Table 2). Besides that,Cordyceps cuncunae andO. emeiensis are also recorded on hepialid hosts (Table 2).


## 5.2. Infraorder Heteroneura

This infraorder consists of more than 98% of lepidopteran species [122]. Nine superfamilies among more than 30 in the infraorder are recorded as hosts ofCordyceps spp. Among the host families, Tineidae is the only microlepidopteran family; the rest are macrolepidopterans. Papilionidae and Pieridae are the two butterfly families, the rest being moths. The host families are briefly described below followed byCordyceps spp. recorded on them.


### 5.2.1. Superfamily Noctuoidea

(1) Erebidae. It is the largest family in Lepidoptera with 24,569 described spp. [122]. Despite the high species richness, only twoCordyceps spp. are recorded on this family. Of them,C. militaris is recorded onCalliteara pudibunda andLeucoma salicis whereasC. nikkoensis is reported on a larva of the family (Table 3).Table 3
Cordyceps species recorded on heteroneuran hosts (Lepidoptera, Glossata, and Heteroneura).
S number
Cordyceps sp.
Host family
Host genus/species
Host stage
1
C. alpicola
Noctuidae
—
Larva [38]
2
C. bassiana
Cossidae
—
Larva [100]
3
C. bifusispora
Noctuidae
—
Pupa [101]
4
C. bulolensis
Noctuidae
—
Larva [38]
5
C. cardinalis
Tineidae
—
Larva [102]
6
C. cristata
Noctuidae
—
Adult [37]
7
C. flavobrunnescens
Sphingidae
—
Pupa [50]
8
C. kyusyuensis
Sphingidae
Clanis bilineata
Larva [103]
9
C. longdongensis
Saturniidae
Actias artemis
Pupa [91]
10
C. michaelisii
Bombycidae
Bombyx sp.
Pupa [104]
11
C. militaris
BombycidaeEndromidaeErebidae  Drepanidae Geometridae Lasiocampidae NoctuidaeNotodontidaeSaturniidae Sphingidae
Bombyx mori
Andraca bipunctata
Calliteara pudibunda, Leucoma salicis
Achlya flavicornis, Ochropacha duplaris, Tethea ocularis, Tetheella fluctuosa
Biston panterinaria, Lycia hirtaria
Dendrolimus pini, D. superans, Macrothylacia rubi
Arcte coerula, Colocasia coryli, Euxoa ochrogaster, Panolis flammea
Fentonia ocypete, Lampronadata cristata, Phalera assimilis, P. bucephala, Syntypistis punctatella
Anisota senatoria
Callambulyx tatarinovii, Laothoe populi, Marumba sperchius, Mimas tiliae, Hyles euphorbiae, Sphinx pinastri
Larva, pupa [31, 32, 50, 105–113]
12
C. nikkoensis
Erebidae
—
Larva [50]
13
C. polyarthra
Sphingidae
—
Larva, pupa [37]
14
C. riverae
Geometridae
Triphosa sp.
Adult [114]
15
C. taishanensis
Sphingidae
Clanis bilineata
Larva [115]
16
C. tuberculata
NoctuidaePapilionidae Sphingidae
——
Amphipyra effusa, Amphonyx duponchel, A. jatrophae, Anceryx ello, Cocytius sp., Macroglossum insipida,Sphinx pinastri
Adult [50, 116–118]
17
M. indigoticum
Cossidae
Yakudza vicarius
Larva [119]
18
M. taii
Pieridae
Pieris rapae
Larva [57]
19
O. cochlidiicola
Limacodidae
—
Larva, pupa [51]
20
O. elongata
Noctuidae
Acronicta americana
Larva, pupa [27]
21
O. arborescens
Cossidae
Cossus sp.
Larva [120]
22
O. macroacicularis
Cossidae
Cossus sp.
Larva [120](2) Noctuidae. It is commonly known as owlet moths.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 4 spp. of this family:Arcte coerula, Colocasia coryli, Euxoa ochrogaster, andPanolis flammea (Table 3).Ophiocordyceps elongata is recorded onAcronicta americana. Other species recorded in this family areCordyceps alpicola, C. bifusispora, C. bulolensis, C. cristata, andC. tuberculata (Table 3).(3) Notodontidae. Its members are mainly concentrated in the tropical areas. Some examples of this family are puss moths.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 5 spp. of this family. They areFentonia ocypete,Lampronadata cristata,Phalera assimilis,P. bucephala, andSyntypistis punctatella (Table 3).


### 5.2.2. Superfamily Zygaenoidea

(1) Limacodidae (Cochlididae). The members of this family are known as slug moths and are mostly tropical.Ophiocordyceps cochlidiicola is recorded on larva and pupa of this family (Table 3).


### 5.2.3. Superfamily Cossoidea

(1) Cossidae. The members are known as carpenter millers and are found worldwide. Four spp. are recorded in this family. Of them,Metarhizium indigoticum is recorded onYakudza vicarius. Two recently described spp.,Ophiocordyceps arborescens andO. macroacicularis, are recorded onCossus sp. (Table 3). The other species recorded on this family isCordyceps bassiana.


### 5.2.4. Superfamily Drepanoidea

(1) Drepanidae. The members of this family have worldwide distribution.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 4 spp. of this family:Achlya flavicornis,Ochropacha duplaris,Tethea ocularis, andTetheella fluctuosa (Table 3).


### 5.2.5. Superfamily Tineoidea

(1) Tineidae. The members are small to medium-sized moths. They are worldwide in distribution but are particularly common in the Palaeartic ecozone.Cordyceps cardinalis is recorded on larva of this family (Table 3).


### 5.2.6. Superfamily Papilionoidea

(1) Papilionidae. It is a family of colorful swallowtail butterflies. Some of the members are the largest butterflies in the world. The majority are distributed in the tropical region.Cordyceps tuberculata is reported on adult of this family (Table 3).(2) Pieridae. It is a large family of butterfly, mostly distributed in the tropical parts of the world. Its members are mostly white, orange, or yellow in pigmentation.Metarhizium taii is reported onPieris rapae in this family (Table 3).


### 5.2.7. Superfamily Geometroidea

(1) Geometridae. It is the second largest family in Lepidoptera with 23,002 spp. [122]. It is commonly known as inch worms. Some of the members are notorious pests.Cordyceps militaris andC. riverae are recorded from this family parasitizingBiston panterinaria,Lycia hirtaria, andTriphosa sp. (Table 3).


### 5.2.8. Superfamily Bombycoidea

(1) Bombycidae. It is known as silkworm family. The most well-known member isBombyx mori, native to northern China.Cordyceps militaris is recorded onB. mori andC. michaelisii on a species ofBombyx (Table 3).(2) Endromidae. This is a small family.Cordyceps militaris is recorded onAndraca bipunctata in this family (Table 3).(3) Saturniidae. The members include giant silk moths, royal moths, and emperor moths. They are described worldwide but are particularly known from tropical and subtropical regions. Some of the members are the largest moth species.Cordyceps longdongensis parasitizesActias artemis whereasC. militaris parasitizesAnisota senatoria (Table 3).(4) Sphingidae. The members of this family are commonly known as hawk moths or sphinx moths. They are moderate to large in size and are mainly described from the tropical parts.Cordyceps militarisis recorded on various species in this family such asCallambulyx tatarinovii,Laothoe populi,Marumba sperchius,Mimas tiliae,Hyles euphorbiae, andSphinx pinastri andC. tuberculataonAmphipyra effusa,Amphonyx duponchel,A. jatrophae,Anceryx ello,Cocytius sp.,Macroglossum insipida, andS. pinastri. Two other spp.Cordyceps kyusyuensis andC. taishanensis are recorded onClanis bilineata.Cordyceps flavobrunnescens andC. polyarthra are other spp. recorded from this family.


### 5.2.9. Superfamily Lasiocampoidea

(1) Lasiocampidae. Its members are known as snout moths or lappet moths. They are large in size with broad wings and are known worldwide.Cordyceps militaris is reported onDendrolimus pini,D. superans, andMacrothylacia rubi (Table 3).Out of 22 spp. recorded on heteroneuran hosts (Table3),C. militaris has the widest host range, extending to 2 infraorders, 6 superfamilies, 10 families, and 29 spp. (Table 3). It is a cosmopolitan species, distributed from sea level to more than 2000 m above sea level [126]. Probably due to its wide host range and adaptability to wider habitats, this species demonstrates rapidin vitro growth and fructifications [127].Cordyceps tuberculata is another species recorded on multiple families. Larva is the most suitable host forCordyceps spp. compared to pupa and adult (Table 3).In total, 16 families in Lepidoptera (1 exoporian and 15 heteroneuran) are identified as host families ofCordyceps and allied genera. Hepialidae, though a small family, hosts 6Cordyceps spp., 1Drechmeria sp., and 10Ophiocordyceps spp. (Table 2). They are mostly distributed in either Asia or Australia/New Zealand. After Hepialidae, Noctuidae and Sphingidae are the families mostly infected byCordyceps spp. (Table 3).Among heteroneuran families, Notodontidae, Drepanidae, and Lasiocampidae are known as hosts ofC. militaris only (Table 3). Similarly, there are families identified as hosts for singleCordyceps/Ophiocordyceps spp., for example, Limacodidae (Cochlididae) forO. cochlidiicola, Tineidae forC. cardinalis, Papilionidae forC. tuberculata, and Pieridae forC. taii. In general, 11 families are known for just one or twoCordyceps spp. (Table 3). On the other hand, a single host species is infected by two spp. such asClanis bilineata byCordyceps kyusyuensis andC. taishanensis,Sphinx pinastri byC. militaris andC. tuberculata,Ahamus yunnanensis byOphiocordyceps lanpingensis andO. laojunshanensis, andEndoclita nodus byO. ramosissimum andO. xuefengensis. From species richness point of view, Erebidae, Geometridae, and Noctuidae are the biggest families in Lepidoptera that occupy nearly 40% of the total lepidopterans [122]. However, they are reported with fewerCordyceps pathogens. For instance, only twoCordyceps spp. are recorded on each Erebidae and Geometridae, proportionately more on Noctuidae (7 spp.) (Table 3). In addition to Coleoptera and Lepidoptera,C. militaris is recorded on two more orders Diptera and Hymenoptera [126]. Similarly, the only other species growing on two orders Lepidoptera and Coleoptera isC. nikkoensis.The analysis in the present review is based on the coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts that are identified at family or infrafamily ranks in the literature. Out of estimated 200 spp. reported on coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts, we have enlisted 92 spp. based on their host records in the literature. We could not include the remaining species because of lack of information on infraorder ranks of their hosts. Though the list is not complete for all Coleoptera and lepidopteran hosts, the overall scenario of the taxonomic distributions of the hosts within Coleoptera and Lepidoptera can be viewed in the present review.


## 5.2.1. Superfamily Noctuoidea

(1) Erebidae. It is the largest family in Lepidoptera with 24,569 described spp. [122]. Despite the high species richness, only twoCordyceps spp. are recorded on this family. Of them,C. militaris is recorded onCalliteara pudibunda andLeucoma salicis whereasC. nikkoensis is reported on a larva of the family (Table 3).Table 3
Cordyceps species recorded on heteroneuran hosts (Lepidoptera, Glossata, and Heteroneura).
S number
Cordyceps sp.
Host family
Host genus/species
Host stage
1
C. alpicola
Noctuidae
—
Larva [38]
2
C. bassiana
Cossidae
—
Larva [100]
3
C. bifusispora
Noctuidae
—
Pupa [101]
4
C. bulolensis
Noctuidae
—
Larva [38]
5
C. cardinalis
Tineidae
—
Larva [102]
6
C. cristata
Noctuidae
—
Adult [37]
7
C. flavobrunnescens
Sphingidae
—
Pupa [50]
8
C. kyusyuensis
Sphingidae
Clanis bilineata
Larva [103]
9
C. longdongensis
Saturniidae
Actias artemis
Pupa [91]
10
C. michaelisii
Bombycidae
Bombyx sp.
Pupa [104]
11
C. militaris
BombycidaeEndromidaeErebidae  Drepanidae Geometridae Lasiocampidae NoctuidaeNotodontidaeSaturniidae Sphingidae
Bombyx mori
Andraca bipunctata
Calliteara pudibunda, Leucoma salicis
Achlya flavicornis, Ochropacha duplaris, Tethea ocularis, Tetheella fluctuosa
Biston panterinaria, Lycia hirtaria
Dendrolimus pini, D. superans, Macrothylacia rubi
Arcte coerula, Colocasia coryli, Euxoa ochrogaster, Panolis flammea
Fentonia ocypete, Lampronadata cristata, Phalera assimilis, P. bucephala, Syntypistis punctatella
Anisota senatoria
Callambulyx tatarinovii, Laothoe populi, Marumba sperchius, Mimas tiliae, Hyles euphorbiae, Sphinx pinastri
Larva, pupa [31, 32, 50, 105–113]
12
C. nikkoensis
Erebidae
—
Larva [50]
13
C. polyarthra
Sphingidae
—
Larva, pupa [37]
14
C. riverae
Geometridae
Triphosa sp.
Adult [114]
15
C. taishanensis
Sphingidae
Clanis bilineata
Larva [115]
16
C. tuberculata
NoctuidaePapilionidae Sphingidae
——
Amphipyra effusa, Amphonyx duponchel, A. jatrophae, Anceryx ello, Cocytius sp., Macroglossum insipida,Sphinx pinastri
Adult [50, 116–118]
17
M. indigoticum
Cossidae
Yakudza vicarius
Larva [119]
18
M. taii
Pieridae
Pieris rapae
Larva [57]
19
O. cochlidiicola
Limacodidae
—
Larva, pupa [51]
20
O. elongata
Noctuidae
Acronicta americana
Larva, pupa [27]
21
O. arborescens
Cossidae
Cossus sp.
Larva [120]
22
O. macroacicularis
Cossidae
Cossus sp.
Larva [120](2) Noctuidae. It is commonly known as owlet moths.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 4 spp. of this family:Arcte coerula, Colocasia coryli, Euxoa ochrogaster, andPanolis flammea (Table 3).Ophiocordyceps elongata is recorded onAcronicta americana. Other species recorded in this family areCordyceps alpicola, C. bifusispora, C. bulolensis, C. cristata, andC. tuberculata (Table 3).(3) Notodontidae. Its members are mainly concentrated in the tropical areas. Some examples of this family are puss moths.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 5 spp. of this family. They areFentonia ocypete,Lampronadata cristata,Phalera assimilis,P. bucephala, andSyntypistis punctatella (Table 3).


## 5.2.2. Superfamily Zygaenoidea

(1) Limacodidae (Cochlididae). The members of this family are known as slug moths and are mostly tropical.Ophiocordyceps cochlidiicola is recorded on larva and pupa of this family (Table 3).


## 5.2.3. Superfamily Cossoidea

(1) Cossidae. The members are known as carpenter millers and are found worldwide. Four spp. are recorded in this family. Of them,Metarhizium indigoticum is recorded onYakudza vicarius. Two recently described spp.,Ophiocordyceps arborescens andO. macroacicularis, are recorded onCossus sp. (Table 3). The other species recorded on this family isCordyceps bassiana.


## 5.2.4. Superfamily Drepanoidea

(1) Drepanidae. The members of this family have worldwide distribution.Cordyceps militaris is recorded on 4 spp. of this family:Achlya flavicornis,Ochropacha duplaris,Tethea ocularis, andTetheella fluctuosa (Table 3).


## 5.2.5. Superfamily Tineoidea

(1) Tineidae. The members are small to medium-sized moths. They are worldwide in distribution but are particularly common in the Palaeartic ecozone.Cordyceps cardinalis is recorded on larva of this family (Table 3).


## 5.2.6. Superfamily Papilionoidea

(1) Papilionidae. It is a family of colorful swallowtail butterflies. Some of the members are the largest butterflies in the world. The majority are distributed in the tropical region.Cordyceps tuberculata is reported on adult of this family (Table 3).(2) Pieridae. It is a large family of butterfly, mostly distributed in the tropical parts of the world. Its members are mostly white, orange, or yellow in pigmentation.Metarhizium taii is reported onPieris rapae in this family (Table 3).


## 5.2.7. Superfamily Geometroidea

(1) Geometridae. It is the second largest family in Lepidoptera with 23,002 spp. [122]. It is commonly known as inch worms. Some of the members are notorious pests.Cordyceps militaris andC. riverae are recorded from this family parasitizingBiston panterinaria,Lycia hirtaria, andTriphosa sp. (Table 3).


## 5.2.8. Superfamily Bombycoidea

(1) Bombycidae. It is known as silkworm family. The most well-known member isBombyx mori, native to northern China.Cordyceps militaris is recorded onB. mori andC. michaelisii on a species ofBombyx (Table 3).(2) Endromidae. This is a small family.Cordyceps militaris is recorded onAndraca bipunctata in this family (Table 3).(3) Saturniidae. The members include giant silk moths, royal moths, and emperor moths. They are described worldwide but are particularly known from tropical and subtropical regions. Some of the members are the largest moth species.Cordyceps longdongensis parasitizesActias artemis whereasC. militaris parasitizesAnisota senatoria (Table 3).(4) Sphingidae. The members of this family are commonly known as hawk moths or sphinx moths. They are moderate to large in size and are mainly described from the tropical parts.Cordyceps militarisis recorded on various species in this family such asCallambulyx tatarinovii,Laothoe populi,Marumba sperchius,Mimas tiliae,Hyles euphorbiae, andSphinx pinastri andC. tuberculataonAmphipyra effusa,Amphonyx duponchel,A. jatrophae,Anceryx ello,Cocytius sp.,Macroglossum insipida, andS. pinastri. Two other spp.Cordyceps kyusyuensis andC. taishanensis are recorded onClanis bilineata.Cordyceps flavobrunnescens andC. polyarthra are other spp. recorded from this family.


## 5.2.9. Superfamily Lasiocampoidea

(1) Lasiocampidae. Its members are known as snout moths or lappet moths. They are large in size with broad wings and are known worldwide.Cordyceps militaris is reported onDendrolimus pini,D. superans, andMacrothylacia rubi (Table 3).Out of 22 spp. recorded on heteroneuran hosts (Table3),C. militaris has the widest host range, extending to 2 infraorders, 6 superfamilies, 10 families, and 29 spp. (Table 3). It is a cosmopolitan species, distributed from sea level to more than 2000 m above sea level [126]. Probably due to its wide host range and adaptability to wider habitats, this species demonstrates rapidin vitro growth and fructifications [127].Cordyceps tuberculata is another species recorded on multiple families. Larva is the most suitable host forCordyceps spp. compared to pupa and adult (Table 3).In total, 16 families in Lepidoptera (1 exoporian and 15 heteroneuran) are identified as host families ofCordyceps and allied genera. Hepialidae, though a small family, hosts 6Cordyceps spp., 1Drechmeria sp., and 10Ophiocordyceps spp. (Table 2). They are mostly distributed in either Asia or Australia/New Zealand. After Hepialidae, Noctuidae and Sphingidae are the families mostly infected byCordyceps spp. (Table 3).Among heteroneuran families, Notodontidae, Drepanidae, and Lasiocampidae are known as hosts ofC. militaris only (Table 3). Similarly, there are families identified as hosts for singleCordyceps/Ophiocordyceps spp., for example, Limacodidae (Cochlididae) forO. cochlidiicola, Tineidae forC. cardinalis, Papilionidae forC. tuberculata, and Pieridae forC. taii. In general, 11 families are known for just one or twoCordyceps spp. (Table 3). On the other hand, a single host species is infected by two spp. such asClanis bilineata byCordyceps kyusyuensis andC. taishanensis,Sphinx pinastri byC. militaris andC. tuberculata,Ahamus yunnanensis byOphiocordyceps lanpingensis andO. laojunshanensis, andEndoclita nodus byO. ramosissimum andO. xuefengensis. From species richness point of view, Erebidae, Geometridae, and Noctuidae are the biggest families in Lepidoptera that occupy nearly 40% of the total lepidopterans [122]. However, they are reported with fewerCordyceps pathogens. For instance, only twoCordyceps spp. are recorded on each Erebidae and Geometridae, proportionately more on Noctuidae (7 spp.) (Table 3). In addition to Coleoptera and Lepidoptera,C. militaris is recorded on two more orders Diptera and Hymenoptera [126]. Similarly, the only other species growing on two orders Lepidoptera and Coleoptera isC. nikkoensis.The analysis in the present review is based on the coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts that are identified at family or infrafamily ranks in the literature. Out of estimated 200 spp. reported on coleopteran and lepidopteran hosts, we have enlisted 92 spp. based on their host records in the literature. We could not include the remaining species because of lack of information on infraorder ranks of their hosts. Though the list is not complete for all Coleoptera and lepidopteran hosts, the overall scenario of the taxonomic distributions of the hosts within Coleoptera and Lepidoptera can be viewed in the present review.


## 6. Further Studies on Hosts ofCordyceps Pathogens

Cordyceps fungi with attached hosts have long been studied as botanical or mycological specimens. Mycologists have studied and identified fungal pathogens of insects based on morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic studies [14, 50, 128]. For interested readers, several color books on entomopathogenic fungi are available [59, 129–142]. However, identification of the host species is far from being complete. Some of the possible reasons for the less work on host identification are discussed here. First, the diseased/damaged/deformed insect specimens hinder the objectives of the insect biologists to study their diversity and life cycle and thus are disposed immediately after encountering them [77]. Second, insects are mostly attacked at larval stage, making the identification more difficult and time consuming. Larval stages are not yet described in most of insect species. However, molecular techniques have been recently developed to identify immature stages of insects [143]. Third,Cordyceps pathogens of insects rarely cause epizootic outbreaks on their hosts, hence causing no significant economic or ecological losses. Fourth, finding aCordyceps pathogen requires much experience and patience and is out of sight for normal observers. Fifth,Cordyceps pathogens are specialists; that is, they are host specific; hence experts interested in one group of insects need not care about pathogens on insects of noninterest groups.Exploring the potential economic benefit fromCordyceps fungi is a continuous objective of mycologists in collaboration with biotechnologists, pharmacologists, analytical chemists, medical scientists, and so forth. The most common example isOphiocordyceps sinensis. This is the fungal entomopathogen collected every year in large quantities [144–148] and sold worldwide as the most expensive biological resource almost twice the value of gold by weight and hence commonly known as Himalayan Gold [149], Tibetan Gold (http://mushroaming.com/content/yartsa-gunbu-article-national-geographic-magazine), or Biological Gold [147]. The other potential species isCordyceps militaris that has been successfully grown on artificial media for commercial purpose [126]. Antitumour, antimetastatic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, antimicrobial, hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic, antiaging, neuroprotective, and renoprotective effects are some of the main effects shown byCordyceps fungi [150].Insect specimens, decaying or mummified with natural enemies, such as virus, bacteria, and fungi, are the good sources of biological control agents of specific insect groups, especially in agriculture, forests, and other natural communities. For example, the susceptible stages of hosts in nature could be informative for the application of entomopathogenic fungi to control harmful insect and pests.In conclusion, we believe such reviews will attract wider audience towards economic and ecological benefits of entomopathogenic fungi includingCordyceps, paving the way for interdisciplinary collaborations. Such reviews will also generate interest in a wider audience including field entomologists, ecologists, biocontrol researchers, and biotechnologists in utilization of entomopathogenic fungi. The accumulative work on host information of other orders parasitized byCordyceps and its asexual genera is going on with the objective of expanding the insect-fungal pathogen index in future.



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*Source: 7648219-2016-02-22.xml*