biology

Ophiocordyceps robertsii

Ophiocordyceps robertsii is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Ophiocordyceps robertsii rather than just read about it. In short: Ophiocordyceps robertsii, known in New Zealand as vegetable caterpillar (Māori: āwhato or āwheto) is an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota) in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. It invades the caterpillars of leaf-litter dwelling moths and turns them into fungal mummies, sending up a fruiting spike above the forest floor to shed its spores.

Key takeaways

Ophiocordyceps robertsii belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Ophiocordyceps robertsii to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Ophiocordyceps robertsii from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Ophiocordyceps robertsii, known in New Zealand as vegetable caterpillar (Māori: āwhato or āwheto) is an entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota) in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. It invades the caterpillars of leaf-litter dwelling moths and turns them into fungal mummies, sending up a fruiting spike above the forest floor to shed its spores. Caterpillars eat the spores as they feed on leaf litter, completing the fungal life cycle. Evidence of this fungus can be seen when small brown stems push through the forest floor: underneath are the dried remains of the host caterpillar. This species was first thought by Europeans to be a worm or caterpillar that burrowed from the top of a tree to the roots, where it exited and then grew a shoot of the plant out of its head. It was the first fungus from New Zealand to be given a binomial name.

Genomics Ophiocordyceps robertsii has a genome that is relatively large for species in the Ophiocordycipitaceae family, estimated at between of 95-103 million base pairs. This size is comparable to that of the related species Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Analysis of the genome sequence revealed much of the size is due to DNA that is repetitive. The analysis also identified the mating-type locus, supporting a heterothallic lifecycle for the species, in which strains of the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 types are required for mating.

Uses The parasitised caterpillar has been used by Māori as a food or to create an ink called ngārahu for traditional tā moko tattoos. The charred caterpillars were mixed with tree sap to make an almost black ink. Scientists suggest that the fungus produces antiseptic chemicals that can prevent infection. In the early 20th century, mummified caterpillars were sold to tourists as a curio.

Gallery

References

External links Ophiocordyceps robertsii discussed in RNZ Critter of the Week, 21 July 2017

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Ophiocordyceps robertsii

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Ophiocordyceps robertsii claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Ophiocordyceps robertsii before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Ophiocordyceps robertsii ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Ophiocordyceps robertsii

In research: Ophiocordyceps robertsii appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Ophiocordyceps robertsii in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Ophiocordyceps robertsii is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Endemic biota of New Zealand, Fungi described in 1837, Fungi of New Zealand, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Ophiocordyceps robertsii outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Ophiocordyceps robertsii in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Ophiocordyceps robertsii means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Ophiocordyceps robertsii out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ophiocordyceps robertsii in simple terms?

Why does Ophiocordyceps robertsii matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Ophiocordyceps robertsii?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Ophiocordyceps robertsii.