Moderators: Chris S., Pau, Beatsy, rjlittlefield, ChrisR
, note the stroma rising up form the abdomen of the moth in the second image and in the first image they are much smaller. Cordyceps affects different insects in different ways. Ants for instance will have a stroma rising up from the back of their head after the fungi has killed them, the grasshopper in my post some months back, show stroma rising form various places and joints around the grasshopper, on your second moth, the stroma is rising up from the abdomen it appears and the stroma are much different from that on the first moth. Cordyceps is very diverse in its species and effects, we could go on and on as to how it affects different insects. I will be keeping a close eye out for fresh specimens this spring and summer, though the pics will be grusome, they will probably fascinate as well, if I get them. 
You are right there Dave, it is the fungus or the infection of the insects CNS by the fungus that causes it to climb aloft. There is not much to be found on the infection itself. You will however find tons of information on the medical uses for Cordyceps and as for the CNS or central nervous system, I am only assuming that that is precisely what is affected by the fungi.Thought that was the fungus that makes them climb up as high as possible Ken before they die so the spores are spread as widely as possible?
