Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus
(Trooping Cordyceps)
Description
Fruit-body tongue- to club-shaped, 2-6 x 0.5-1 cm. Cap widened, finely warty, orange to orange-yellow.
Stem pale orange to ochrous yellow.
Occurrence
Fairly common on butterfly pupae in moderately manured or unmanured grasslands, mixed or broad-leaved woods and avenues on poor, dry sandy or loamy soil, often among Hook Moss.
Parasitic.