Botryandromyces heteroceri (Maire) I.I.Tav. & T.Majewski

MB#309837

Fig. 23C–E

Mycotaxon 3 (2): 195 (Tavares & Majewski 1976). – Basionym: Misgomyces heteroceri Maire, Bulletin de la Société d’Histoire Naturelle de l’Afrique du Nord 11(8): 159 (Maire 1920) [MB#159206]. –

Type: [Type lost?!] “ Sur les pattes et les élytres d’ Heterocerus maritimus Guérin: C. Bône, embouchure de la Seybouse, mars 1918 ”. [Algeria] [ Laboulbenia heteroceri is mentioned as basionym in MB, but L. heteroceri was never described or mentioned in the literature; probably this is a confusion with L. heteroceratis Thaxt., the basionym of Botryandromyces heteroceratis (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav. & T.Majewski, a name which was later changed to B. ornatus I.I.Tav.]

Diagnostic features

Lower receptacle consisting of a series of 2–8(33) cells. Upper receptacle three-celled, with the lowermost cell subtending two parallel cells (Fig. 23C, *), which support many small and irregularly shaped cells, some of them giving rise to simple antheridia (Fig. 23C, an). Perithecium with a narrow and clearly distinguished neck.[Detailed descriptions: Majewski 1994b; Weir 1994; Santamaria 2003; De Kesel 2009]

Distribution and hosts

Described as Misgomyces heteroceri on Heterocerus Fabricius, 1792 (Col. Heteroceridae) from Algeria. Also grows on the related genera Augyles Schioedte, 1866 and Littorimus Gozis, 1885 . Widespread in Europe: Spain, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Greece (Majewski 2008), Hungary (Bánhegyi et al. 1985), Belgium (De Kesel 2009), the Netherlands (Haelewaters et al. 2014), Sweden (Huggert 2010), Bulgaria (Rossi et al. 2019a), and Austria (Rossi & Christian 2020); and Asia: Thailand (Santamaria & Rossi 1999), China (Zhang et al. 2001), and Turkey (Rossi 2016).

Collections examined from Denmark

On Augyles hispidulus (Kiesenwetter, 1843) (Col. Heteroceridae)

DENMARK – Nordvestsjaelland (NWZ) • Nordøstbredden af Tissø; 55°35.612′ N, 11°18.461′ E; PG46; 1 May 2013; JP 181; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122660 .

On Heterocerus fenestratus (Thunberg, 1784) (Col. Heteroceridae)

DENMARK – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • Gundsømagle Holme; 55°44.733′ N, 12°10.933′ E; UB28; 20 Aug. 2016; JP 117; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122594 .

On Heterocerus flexuosus Stephens, 1828 (Col. Heteroceridae)

DENMARK – Sydjylland (SJ) • Rejsby Sluse vest for Rejsby; 55°13.931′ N, 8°40.488′ E; MG72; 8 Mar. 2020; JP 1651; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124373 .

On Heterocerus fusculus Kiesenwetter, 1843 (Col. Heteroceridae)

DENMARK – Sydjylland (SJ) • Rejsby Sluse vest for Rejsby; 55°13.931′ N, 8°40.488′ E; MG72; 8 Mar. 2020; JP 1652; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124374 .

On Heterocerus obsoletus Curtis, 1828 (Col. Heteroceridae)

DENMARK – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Ulvshale; 55°3.218′ N, 12°15.801′ E; UB20; 10 Jun. 2017; JP 428; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122913 .

Remarks

First record from Denmark. The size of thalli differs considerably in relation to the growth location on the host. Longer thalli occur on elytra and pronotum (Fig. 23C), while the shorter ones are found on tarsi (Fig. 23E) as usual in most species of Laboulbeniales . Very often we find elongated, filiform thalli, with the lower receptacle consisting of up to 33 superposed cells, without mature perithecia, but showing a normal upper receptacle; some of the cells in the lower receptacle separate corner cells which form the base for short branchlets bearing clusters of flask-shaped antheridia (Fig. 23D). These differ from the typical antheridia found on the upper receptacle because of their longer efferent necks. We do not understand the meaning of this dimorphism or the presence of these extremely elongated thalli, bearing only antheridia and lacking any trace of female elements.