PREFACE

Preface to the original Korean edition:

        It was a rainy summer day in 1984 at the Experimental Plantation of Kangwon National University that I was involved in my first encounter with the entomopathogenic species of Cordyceps. The Experimental Plantation of Kangwon National University is a biological preserve maintained in a natural, undisturbed ecological condition and contains many different tree species. I often go there now to search for fungi affecting insects. on that day in 1985, during a mushroom foray, I found Cordyceps for the first time. I cannot forget the amazing circumstances and mysterious feelings that I felt at that time.

        I have been interested in insect-born fungi since then for several reasons: Entomopathogenic fungi are different from more standard macrofungi due to their characteristically small size, and one must concentrate one's attention and patience on finding them. Also, the collection and preservation of various medically and commercially important species of insect-born fungi is an important process to enable future studies with these fungi. I also wanted to let many Koreans know about what might be found in such undisturbed habitats as those in the Plantation and to make them aware of the necessity of preserving such locations. I focused on this, and this growing passion encouraged me to collect insect fungi wherever and whenever I had the time. I had difficulties, however, in collecting these fungi because of their small sizes and restriction to the bodies of their hosts. After much trial and error, I accumulated enough experience and knowledge that I can recognize the sorts of habitats mostly likely to yield these fungi, and the sorts of fungi to be found throughout Gangwon Province. Now when I go to the field with students, I ask them to concentrate on collecting only the fruiting bodies of Cordyceps species, and within an hour of starting our collecting activity the mountainside is usually filled with shouts of joy as they begin to see these fungi. During last ten years, I formed links with my students for collection and research of samples. We have examined each sample, and have finally published a pictorial book of the entomopathogenic fungi of Korea. I have illustrated as many collections as possible here and added brief explanations for each sample. I also introduced my technique for inducing fruiting body formation of Cordyceps species in artificial culture. I hope this little book will serve as a guide to people who want to learn more about Cordyceps and other fungi affecting insects. I also hope this book will help familiarize the general public with these relatively unknown and unfamiliar fungi.

        I thank the students in my class who participated in collecting these fungi and the development of this book. I thank the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) for supporting this project. I also thank Dr. Yang-Sup Kim of the Agricultural Experiment Station of Korea for his advice and useful discussions. I also express my sincere thanks to those who helped me in any way. I especially thank Choi, Hyun-Sup, the President of Kangwon National University. I am indebted to the professionals of the KyoHak who performed the magic of transforming my manuscript and figures into a printed book.