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Purpureocillium atypicola is a cordyceps relative specialized in digesting trap door spiders.

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Purpureocillium atypicola leaf DW Ms.jpg Ophiocordyceps unilateralis group growing on a contorted ant seen near YopalThumbnailsPurpureocillium atypicola, a Cordyceps that attacks trapdoor spiders after I dug it out carefully. Seen near Yopal.Ophiocordyceps unilateralis group growing on a contorted ant seen near YopalThumbnailsPurpureocillium atypicola, a Cordyceps that attacks trapdoor spiders after I dug it out carefully. Seen near Yopal.Ophiocordyceps unilateralis group growing on a contorted ant seen near YopalThumbnailsPurpureocillium atypicola, a Cordyceps that attacks trapdoor spiders after I dug it out carefully. Seen near Yopal.Ophiocordyceps unilateralis group growing on a contorted ant seen near YopalThumbnailsPurpureocillium atypicola, a Cordyceps that attacks trapdoor spiders after I dug it out carefully. Seen near Yopal.Ophiocordyceps unilateralis group growing on a contorted ant seen near YopalThumbnailsPurpureocillium atypicola, a Cordyceps that attacks trapdoor spiders after I dug it out carefully. Seen near Yopal.

On the base of the stroma is the dug-out cocoon-like sac in which the spider waits underground to snatch a passing by insect or other small creature. In this case Purpureocillium atypicola surprised the spider!
Previously Purpureocillium atypicola was known as Nomuraea atypicola, It is part of Ophiocordycipitaceae family.