Akanthomyces bannaensis X.C. Zhang & C.L. Zhao, 2024

Zhang, Xunchi, Fu, Zhonghong, Lu, Fei, Song, Jiushan & Zhao, Changlin, 2024, Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses revealed a new invertebrate-pathogenic fungus Akanthomyces bannaensis (Cordycipitaceae, Ascomycota), in China, Phytotaxa 666 (1), pp. 17-30 : 23-26

Akanthomyces bannaensis X.C. Zhang & C.L. Zhao , sp. nov. Figs. 3 , 4

MycoBank no.: MB 853954

Diagnosis: —The species is distinguished from other Akanthomyces species by it occurring on an adult of Dudusa sphingiformis and synnemata arising from a moth body up to 5 cm long and 0.1–1.3 mm wide, unbranched, cylindrical to clavate with acute or blunt end.

Etymology: — bannaensis (Lat.) refers to the locality (Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna) of the type specimen.

Type: — CHINA. Yunnan Province, Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna, Jinghong, Menglun Town , 21°55′N, 101°13′E, elev. 544 m, on the underside of the leaves of angiosperms, 9 October 2023, leg. C. L. Zhao, CLZhao 34016 (holotype, SWFC F0034016 ), GenBank No. (ITS PP571895; nLSU PP571897; RPB2 PP588774 ) .

Description:— Sexual morph: Undetermined. Asexual morph: Specimens examined in this study can be found on the underside of the leaves of angiosperms. The hosts were adult moths, ca. 4 × 2.5 cm. Synnemata arising from moth body and wings, white (C0 M0 Y5 K0) to cream (C0 M10 Y40 K0), up to 5 cm long and 0.1–1.3 mm wide, unbranched, cylindrical to clavate with acute or blunt end. Hyphae smooth-walled, branched, septate, hyaline, 2.65– 2.90 µm wide. Conidiogenous cells produced along synnemata, monophialidic or polyphialidic. Phialides smooth-walled, hyaline, cylindrical with papillate end, (7–) 8–10 × (2.2–) 2.5–3.8 µm (n = 20/1). Conidia smooth-walled, colorless, single-celled, ellipsoidal or obovoid, (3.8–) 4–5.8 × 2–3 µm, L = 4.80 μm, W = 2.52 µm, Q = 1.74–2.08 (n = 60/2).

Host: —Adult moth ( Dudusa sphingiformis , Notodontidae , Lepidoptera ).

Habit: —On the adults of Dudusa sphingiformis attached to the underside of the leaves of an angiosperm.

Distribution: — CHINA. Yunnan Province, Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna, Jinghong, Menglun Town.

Additional specimen examined (paratype): — CHINA. Yunnan Province, Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna, Jinghong, Menglun Town , 21°55′N, 101°13′E, elev. 544 m, on the underside of leaves of an angiosperm, 9 October 2023, leg. C. L. Zhao, CLZhao 34017 ( SWFC F0034017 ), GenBank No. (ITS PP571896; nLSU PP571898 ) .

Notes: — Akanthomyces bannaensis was found only in its anamorph state on an adult Dudusa sphingiformis , while A. pyralidarum was reported on an adult of the family Pyralidae sp. In fact, this new species is easily distinguished from other known species of Akanthomyces by occurring on an adult of Dudusa sphingiformis and synnemata arising from a moth body up to 5 cm long and 0.1–1.3 mm wide, unbranched, cylindrical to clavate with acute or blunt end ( Table 2).

this study.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Akanthomyces bannaensis (Photos from the Holotype CLZhao 34016).A–C. fungus on adult moth; D, E. synnema from host body; F, G. Phialides arising from tramal hypha; H. Ellipsoidal conidia; I. Obovoid conidia; J–L. synnema from moth wings. M. Phialides at the tip of synnema.

FIGURE 4. Microscopic structures of Akanthomyces bannaensis (Drawn from the Holotype CLZhao 34016). A. Obovoid conidia; B. Ellipsoidal conidia; C. Tramal hypha; D. Phialides at the tip of synnema; E. Phialides arising from tramal hypha.