Katydid covered in fungus, Andasibe, Madagascar

This looks to be a dead katydid/cricket entirely covered in some fungus. Possibly a cordyceps:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rainforests/25035328041

Another suggestion: Beauveria

Pretty weird, as is expected on a Christant path (only 3 people in the world get that reference).

comments (11)

Christine Young

Lion

Really cool find! And, found on the world-famous Christant path, yessss!

It looks a lot like Beauveria bassiana to me. Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you, Beauveria was also suggested on FB, will go with that!
  
  It's going to be a small tag, but I will only put weird things in it. Weird is my brand:
  
  6Christant Path Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Great! While in grad school, I had to infect insects with B. bassiana and it was so sad to watch them become engulfed in the fungus, but yet completely fascinating.
    
    Love the tag and that it will be full of delightful weirdos! Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks you, but full in this case would be a handful of photos, this hike did not produce a whole lot. Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Well, that's expected. Weirdos are uncommon and unique, even on the Christant Path. Posted 5 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Plus about 75% of time walking it, I was stuck. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Getting stuck is part of trailblazing, As are spider webs in your face, especially if you are 10 feet tall. You’re not done with the photos from this hike yet, are you? I thought there was a fancy spider from your travel report that you photographed here? Posted 5 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Hah great memory you have. You're right, not done yet, but almost. Had wanted to upload the rest earlier, but crazy week. Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Something for me to anticipate :) Posted 5 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Posted 5 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Yay!! Posted 5 years ago

The Beauveria bassiana

''Beauveria bassiana'' is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and acts as a parasite on various arthropod species, causing white muscardine disease; it thus belongs to the entomopathogenic fungi. It is being used as a biological insecticide to control a number of pests such as termites, thrips, whiteflies, aphids and different beetles. Its use in the control of bedbugs and malaria-transmitting mosquitos is under investigation.

Info 4 0

Similar species: Hypocreales

Species identified by Ferdy Christant