Insectivorous mushrooms- sleep with one eye open

[Guest reville]

Check out recent developments in Cordyceps cultivation

http://www.shroomery.org/wwwthreads/showfl...&sb=5&o=&fpart=

damn id had the exact same idea about mealworms and silkies a year and a half ago but couldnt do it cos i couldnt afford the $150 for the dried caterpillars.

When i do ill have to get someone is brisbane to buy some for me

good to see its working.

Theres another species that parasitises cicadas

im going to try it on Feed crickets - hell maybe even roaches

I bought a book a while back on raising butterflies so i can raise other types of insect to infect (Mwahahahahar)

I bought and have bred up shitloads of mealworms and have access to feed crickets, roaches, silkworms and cabbage whites

Can anyone think of any other juicy insects with crunchy exoskeletons that can be raised easily?

That X files episode 'Terror firma' still bugs me, a hallucinogenic cordyceps like fungus that eats large mammals like mulder and scully

[theobromos]

Cordyceps ophioglossoides is a naturally vegetarian species with the same medicinal qualities.

[Guest reville]

Does it really eat vegetarians!

Where can i get me some

keenly interested

rev

[This message has been edited by reville (edited 14 March 2002).]

[Guest reville]

OK

im serious.

Can anyone give me a start on this vegetarian cordyceps?

[squiresk]

Reville,

There is a little mention on Cordyceps Sinensis in this month's National Geographic.

Basically, " In the Sichuan nature reserve hours of tedious seaching are devoted to gathering C. Sin., a fungus eaten to bolster the immune system. Caterpillars hatched from moth eggs burrow into the soil, where they are invaded by fungi that sprout threads rising barely above the ground. Overharvesting is a concern since collectors may strip areas of certain species."

There is a picture of a man/woman knealing, searching the forest floor.

You'd better get developing methods so we can all retire early.

Hows it all going anyway, becoming quite interested myself now.

Kai.

[Guest reville]

No update on the success with mealies but a culture has my name on it . cant wait .

[theobromos]

The vegetarian Cordyceps eats a false truffle called Elaphomyces. These infected truffloids were sold in British markets as aphrodisiacs some time ago. It is found in Mexico and Britain to my certain knowledge, so probably some other places as well.

I thought C.sinensis had been cultured on rice by Mycoherb?

[Guest reville]

Yes the cordyceps can be cultured on non insect media - but i want the real deal as do the chinese herbalists and they are prepared to pay a lot more for the whole caterpillar. Well nearly the real deal - hence the alternative hosts

[theobromos]

The only species used with Psilocybe traditionally is the truffle-eating one. Why the need for insect-eating species?

[Guest reville]

used with psilocybe - do tell?

Im just after it for its healthiness

though Christaian did mention that in nepal they grind and smoke it with tobacco to 'go far'

[theobromos]

For the full story see Pharmacotheon.

[squiresk]

Time for an update, Rev.

BTW, there is an excellent site, someone may have mentioned it already but,

www.mushworld.com

then the medicinal musrooms link at the top,

and at the bottom there is some really good info, in fact all you'd probably need to know, about these critters.

I think you may have to register (free) but well worth it IMO.

l8r K.

(oops, already mentioned in the original shroomery thread)

[This message has been edited by squiresk (edited 18 September 2002).]