Paraisaria pseudoheteropoda Tehan & Spatafora, 2023

Tehan, Richard M., Dooley, Connor B., Barge, Edward G., McPhail, Kerry L. & Spatafora, Joseph W., 2023, New species and new combinations in the genus Paraisaria (Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) from the U. S. A., supported by polyphasic analysis, MycoKeys 100, pp. 69-94 : 69

Paraisaria pseudoheteropoda Tehan & Spatafora sp. nov.

Fig. 4

Type material.

Holotype. U.S.A. Arkansas: Searcy County, Grinder's Ferry, 35.985, -92.732, elevation: 252 m, 15 May 2022, on nymphs of cicadidae ( Hemiptera ) buried in soil, in near Quercus sp., Carya sp., and Juniperus virginiana , collected by Kerri McCabe (OSC-M-052022, ex-type culture: ARSEF 14616).

Etymology.

Paraisaria pseudoheteropoda resembling another cicada-pathogenic species, Paraisaria heteropoda .

Description.

Stromata capitate or subclavate, unbranched, growing singly or up to two stromata attached by rhizoids to hypogeous nymphs of Cicadidae ( Hemiptera ). Ascogenous portion globose or subglobose, 9-11 × 7-8 mm, cream to chestnut brown. Stipe white to light brown, inside fibrous, white, 20-53 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, papillate with ostioles of perithecia. Perithecia obclavate, immersed, ordinally arranged 680-745(-760) × (310-)330-420 µm. Asci hyaline, cylindrical, eight-spored, observed up to 420 µm long × 5.5-6.5 µm wide, possessing abruptly thickened apex. Ascospores hyaline, filiform, multiseptate, breaking into 64 cylindrical part-spores, (5.6-)6.2-7.9(-8.7) × 1.6-2.1(-2.4) µm.

Culture characteristics.

Colonies on PDA 61 days at 20 °C, 29 mm, white, reverse yellow to orange. Mycelium septate, smooth-walled hyaline. No conidial state was observed.

Host.

Nymphs of Cicadidae ( Hemiptera ).

Habitat.

Specimens occur on hypogeous nymphs of cicadae at the base of coniferous and deciduous trees, especially oaks.

Additional materials examined.

U.S.A. Missouri: Barry County, Cassville , at approximately 36.5586, -93.6833, elevation: 301 m, 26 May 2019, on nymph of cicada buried in soil, collected by Aaron Peters, (OSC-M-052005) U.S.A. Missouri: Barry County, Cassville , at approximately 36.6501, -93.7031, elevation: 382 m, 16 May 2019, on nymph of cicada buried in soil, collected by Aaron Peters (OSC-M-052007) U.S.A. Missouri: Barry County, Cassville , at approximately 36.5586, -93.6833, elevation: 301 m, 4 April 2020, on nymph of cicada buried in soil, collected by Aaron Peters (OSC-M-052009, living culture: ARSEF 14610) . U.S.A. Kentucky: Lincoln County, Crab Orchard , at approximately 36.464, -84.51, elevation: 290 m, 19 April 2021, on nymph of cicada buried in soil, collected by Michael Roberts (OSC-M-052015) . U.S.A. Tennessee: Putnam County, Cookerville , at approximately 36.163, -85.501, elevation: 337 m, 17 April 2022, on nymph of cicada buried in soil in mixed hardwood forest comprising Quercus sp., Fagus sp., Populus sp. and Arundinaria gigantea , collected by Jamie Newman (OSC-M-052019) . U.S.A. Tennessee: Putnam County, Silver Point , at approximately 36.1409, -85.7374, elevation: 180 m, 17 April 2022, on nymph of cicada buried in soil among Acer negundo , Carpinus caroliniana , Carya sp., Quercus rubra , Lindera sp., Amphicarpaea bracteata , Phlox divaricata , Salvia lyrata . collected by Holly Taylor (OSC-M-052020) . U.S.A. Arkansas: Searcy County, Grinder's Ferry , at approximately 35.983, -92.719, elevation: 222 m, 14 May 2022, on nymphs of cicadae buried in soil, in near Quercus sp., Carya sp., and Juniperus virginiana , collected by Kerri McCabe (OSC-M-052021) . U.S.A. Missouri: Barry County, Roaring River , at approximately 36.5593, -93.683, elevation: 296 m, 24 May 2022, on nymphs of cicadae buried in soil, collected by Aaron Peters, (OSC-M-052023) . U.S.A. Virginia: Albemarle County, Charlottesville , at approximately 38.0812, -78.4657, elevation: 133 m, 31 May 2022, on nymph of cf. Neotibicen sp. ( Cicadidae , Hemiptera ) buried in soil near Acer rubrum , collected by Amelio Little (OSC-M-052024) . U.S.A. Missouri: Barry County, Roaring River , at approximately 36.5583, -93.6836, elevation: 305 m, 25 May 2022, on nymphs of cicadae buried in soil, collected by Aaron Peters, (OSC-M-052025) . U.S.A. Alabama: St. Clair County, Leeds , at approximately 33.5540, -86.5382, elevation: 198 m, 12 March 2023, on nymphs of cicadae buried in soil, collected by Courtney Mynick, (OSC-M-053266) . U.S.A. Alabama: Jefferson County, Birmingham , at approximately 33.4402, -86.8894, elevation: 195 m, 16 March 2023, on nymphs of cicadae buried in soil, collected by Bucky Raeder, (OSC-M-053267) .

Notes.

This species is the only Paraisaria species known to occur on cicadas in North America. In morphology and geographic distribution, it overlaps with P. insignis but that species is distinguished by its strict occurrence on Coleoptera . P. pseudoheteropoda sometimes has a pallid stroma which is not observed in P. insignis .

Figures

Figure 4. Paraisaria pseudoheteropoda A OSC-M- 052022 B fertile head C, D cross section of fertile head showing arrangement of perithecia E perithecia F ascus G ascus apex H, I ascospores J ascospore tip K part-spores L, K colonies on PDA 61 d (L obverse, M reverse).