On Entozoical Fungi* 126 



Remarks on certain Entozoical Fungi. By Abraham 

 Halsey. Read April 19, 1824. 



In the warm climate of South America, a fungus is frequent- 

 ly met with, growing from dead insects of the Vespa? and Grylli 

 tribes. Specimens of one of these insects, with a fungus pro- 

 truding from its sternum, were lately presented to the Ly- 

 ceum by Dr. Madianna, from Guadeloupe, where it is known 

 among the inhabitants by the name of la guepe vegetale, or 

 vegetable wasp. Dickson first detected this species of fungus in 

 England, and described it under the appropriate name ofSphceria 

 entomorhiza. It is found there, and may occasionally be 

 met with in this country, but always on the dead larvae of in- 

 sects. Our specimens do not coincide exactly with the de- 

 scription and figure of Dickson, though perhaps the discre- 

 pance is not sufficient to constitute any specific difference, the 

 Sphceria of the section to which the present species belongs 

 (clavata) being liable to considerable variation. The clavula 

 rises somewhat flexuously or spirally, and the capitulum in- 

 stead of being globose, according to Dickson, is ovate. The 

 most remarkable particular, however, respecting this fungus is 

 the fact communicated by Dr. Madianna, that he has noticed 

 the wasp still living with its incumbrance attached to it, though 

 apparently in the last stage of existence, and seeming about to 

 perish from the influence of its destructive parasite. Although 

 nothing of a similar nature has been observed in the phanero- 

 gamous plants, our knowledge of the physiology of the fun- 

 gi is still too imperfect to permit us to deny the probability 

 that it sometimes occurs with these. It may be doubted whe- 

 thev the vegetable ever predominates over the animal life, 

 while the vital principle of the latter is in full energy ; but that 

 the larvae, in a feeble state, may have afforded a fit recipient 

 for the seed of the fungus, while their complete evolution was 

 retarded by some cause, until the final transformation of the 



