Wildflowers Found in Oregon

Beetle Cordyceps

Cordyceps sitchensis - A conspicuous terrestrial parasite of beetle larvae. Widely distributed in the Americas from the eastern United States south to Ecuador. Many infect caterpillars like Cordyceps Sinensis. Others infect beetle larvae, ants, wasps, termites and flies. Importantly, all Cordyceps (including Cordyceps Sinensis) are very specific in what they will infect. In alpine grasslands, Cordyceps Sinensis will only infect hepialid larvae. They can not infect any of the tens of other species of moths and butterflies that can be seen flying through these meadows in the summer months. But occasionally, cross-over occurs - in much the same way that Bird Flu has crossed over to humans. At some point a forest-dwelling Cordyceps, probably infecting a relative of the alpine-meadow moth, moved out of the forest and into the grassland.