More commonly known as the zombie fungus, Cordyceps infects insects, taking control of motor functions through a process that is still a mystery to science. The fungi then effectively drive the insect to an elevated location where the fruiting bodies of the fungus proceed to explode through the body of the insect, spreading millions of spores into the atmosphere.

This was a first for me, spotting this family of fungi in the wild. This particular example was found on some incredibly steep terrain on Te Waewae Kāpiti o Tara rāua ko Rangitāne/Kapiti Island.