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A draft genome of the ghost moth, Thitarodes (Hepialus) sp., a medicinal caterpillar fungus

The Chinese caterpillar fungus, commonly known as “Dong Chong Xia Cao” (winter worm summer grass) in China, is one of the most valuable medicinal fungi in the world (Zhang et al., 2012). In the alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau (altitude 3500–5000 m), the ascomycete Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis) parasitizes the larvae of the ghost moth (Thitarodes spp.), forming a fungus-caterpillar complex. The caterpillar fungus has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for hundreds of years, with a diverse list of pharmacological effects (Zhu et al., 1998). In recent years, many scientific reports have indicated its medical benefits for the respiratory, renal, hepatic, cardiovascular and immune systems (Rathor et al., 2014). The huge commercial demand, limited distribution and the failure of artificial cultivation have caused excessive harvest of the parasitic complexes, resulting in biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation in the Tibetan Plateau. More than 50 ghost moth species have been recorded as potential hosts of the fungus (Wang & Yao, 2011), most of which are of the genus Thitarodes (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea). Generally, the host caterpillar lives in soil for 4–5 years and feeds on plant roots. The fungus infects larvae and finally grows