Wasp Cordyceps

Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala

Also called: Wasp Cordyceps, Yellow Wasp Cordyceps

Overview

Slender yellow club arising from a buried, mummified wasp host. Eastern hardwood forests, late summer to fall. Not eaten — catalogued for documentation. One of several North American Ophiocordyceps species that parasitize Hymenoptera.

Edibility

Edible

Rarity

rare

Trophic mode

parasitic

Typical peak

Sep

Season

Aug–Oct — typical fruiting months: Aug, Sep, Oct.

Host trees & substrate

Buried mummified wasps in duff

Where it grows

Appalachian Highlands
Southeast Coastal Plain
Northeast
Upper Midwest / Great Lakes
Great Plains
Texas
Rocky Mountains
Desert Southwest
Sierra Nevada & Nor-Cal
Pacific Northwest

See live fruiting predictions for Wasp Cordyceps on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.

Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.