caterpillar fungus
"Caterpillar fungus" refers to a parasitic fungus found in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, known for its use in traditional medicine.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1Biology
(technical, academic)A parasitic fungus that infects and mummifies the larvae of ghost moths, producing a fruiting body from the dead caterpillar.
Example
- The caterpillar fungus has a unique life cycle, emerging from the head of a mummified caterpillar.
B2Medicine
(traditional, Chinese)A medicinal ingredient derived from a parasitic fungus and its host caterpillar, used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine.
Example
- Caterpillar fungus is highly prized for its purported health benefits in traditional medicine.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "caterpillar fungus":