This story has it all: it’s a conservation problem for an aphrodisiac ‘zombie’ fungus that’s worth more than gold!
Yarsagumba, Ophiocordyceps sinensis or ‘caterpillar fungus’ or ‘winter
worm, summer grass’ or ‘Himalayan Viagra’, is a Himalayan fungus that is
quite the status symbol in China where it can fetch up to 100 USD per
gram due to its use in traditional Chinese medicine as a supposed aphrodisiac.
The fungus spores infect the larvae of ghost moths; cause them to move
to just below the surface of the soil with head facing upwards then kill
them. The valuable fruiting body then grows from the corpse.
As you may well imagine, this high value has triggered rather a fungus
boom in the extremely poor mountainous areas of Nepal where the fungus
is found. However, research for a study to be published in Biological
Conservation found that the annual trade fell by more than 50% from 2009
to 2011. This is likely because 94% of the fungus collected by
villagers had not dispersed its spores; the study’s lead author said
“this would probably reduce the yield in the following year”.
This may damage the area the fungus is found in by causing a boom in the
populations of the ghost moths that could have further ramifications
for the local ecosystem.
Image from the Rafti Institute is of O. Sinensis specimens.
Qui, J.Q., 2013. Overharvesting leaves ‘Himalayan Viagra’ fungus
feeling short. Nature.com, [ONLINE] 29 January 2013. Available at:
doi:10.1038/
This story has it all: it’s a conservation problem for an aphrodisiac ‘zombie’ fungus that’s worth more than gold!
Yarsagumba, Ophiocordyceps sinensis or ‘caterpillar fungus’ or ‘winter worm, summer grass’ or ‘Himalayan Viagra’, is a Himalayan fungus that is quite the status symbol in China where it can fetch up to 100 USD per gram due to its use in traditional Chinese medicine as a supposed aphrodisiac.
The fungus spores infect the larvae of ghost moths; cause them to move to just below the surface of the soil with head facing upwards then kill them. The valuable fruiting body then grows from the corpse.
As you may well imagine, this high value has triggered rather a fungus boom in the extremely poor mountainous areas of Nepal where the fungus is found. However, research for a study to be published in Biological Conservation found that the annual trade fell by more than 50% from 2009 to 2011. This is likely because 94% of the fungus collected by villagers had not dispersed its spores; the study’s lead author said “this would probably reduce the yield in the following year”.
This may damage the area the fungus is found in by causing a boom in the populations of the ghost moths that could have further ramifications for the local ecosystem.
Image from the Rafti Institute is of O. Sinensis specimens.
Qui, J.Q., 2013. Overharvesting leaves ‘Himalayan Viagra’ fungus feeling short. Nature.com, [ONLINE] 29 January 2013. Available at: doi:10.1038/
Yarsagumba, Ophiocordyceps sinensis or ‘caterpillar fungus’ or ‘winter worm, summer grass’ or ‘Himalayan Viagra’, is a Himalayan fungus that is quite the status symbol in China where it can fetch up to 100 USD per gram due to its use in traditional Chinese medicine as a supposed aphrodisiac.
The fungus spores infect the larvae of ghost moths; cause them to move to just below the surface of the soil with head facing upwards then kill them. The valuable fruiting body then grows from the corpse.
As you may well imagine, this high value has triggered rather a fungus boom in the extremely poor mountainous areas of Nepal where the fungus is found. However, research for a study to be published in Biological Conservation found that the annual trade fell by more than 50% from 2009 to 2011. This is likely because 94% of the fungus collected by villagers had not dispersed its spores; the study’s lead author said “this would probably reduce the yield in the following year”.
This may damage the area the fungus is found in by causing a boom in the populations of the ghost moths that could have further ramifications for the local ecosystem.
Image from the Rafti Institute is of O. Sinensis specimens.
Qui, J.Q., 2013. Overharvesting leaves ‘Himalayan Viagra’ fungus feeling short. Nature.com, [ONLINE] 29 January 2013. Available at: doi:10.1038/
![This story has it all: it’s a conservation problem for an aphrodisiac ‘zombie’ fungus that’s worth more than gold!
Yarsagumba, Ophiocordyceps sinensis or ‘caterpillar fungus’ or ‘winter worm, summer grass’ or ‘Himalayan Viagra’, is a Himalayan fungus that is quite the status symbol in China where it can fetch up to 100 USD per gram due to its use in traditional Chinese medicine as a supposed aphrodisiac.
The fungus spores infect the larvae of ghost moths; cause them to move to just below the surface of the soil with head facing upwards then kill them. The valuable fruiting body then grows from the corpse.
As you may well imagine, this high value has triggered rather a fungus boom in the extremely poor mountainous areas of Nepal where the fungus is found. However, research for a study to be published in Biological Conservation found that the annual trade fell by more than 50% from 2009 to 2011. This is likely because 94% of the fungus collected by villagers had not dispersed its spores; the study’s lead author said “this would probably reduce the yield in the following year”.
This may damage the area the fungus is found in by causing a boom in the populations of the ghost moths that could have further ramifications for the local ecosystem.
Image from the Rafti Institute is of O. Sinensis specimens.
Qui, J.Q., 2013. Overharvesting leaves ‘Himalayan Viagra’ fungus feeling short. Nature.com, [ONLINE] 29 January 2013. Available at: doi:10.1038/nature.2013.12308. [Accessed 31/01/2013].](http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s480x480/528877_591722810842698_1965051263_n.jpg)
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