Genus Cryptandromyces Thaxt.

MB#1307

Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 48: 173 (Thaxter 1912a) emend. Santam. (hoc opus). –

Type species: C. geniculatus Thaxt.

PeYerimhoffiella Maire, Bulletin de la Société d’Histoire Naturelle de l’Afrique du Nord 7: 18 (Maire 1916a) [MB#3855]

Brief description

Monoecious or dioecious. Receptacle three-celled. Cells II and III separated by an oblique or vertical septum, in contact or not with cell I. Primary appendage free, consisting of several superposed cells; simple or sparsely branched, bearing lateral sessile or subsessile antheridia, or rarely functioning themselves as phialides and then with a lateral efferent neck (see C. bibloplecti). Perithecium with five cells in each vertical row of outer wall cells which are equal or almost equal in height (Fig. 48F).

Remarks

With the two new species here described, the genus consists of 21 species, of which six in Europe, all in Denmark. The most recently described species are C. euplecti (Santamaria 2001a), C. pinguis and C. tricornis (Haelewaters et al. 2021) . Seven of the species grow on Pselaphinae (Col. Staphylinidae), viz.: C. batrisi (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav., C. batrisoceni (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav., C. bibloplecti T.Majewski, C. bryaxidis T.Majewski, C. elegans (Maire) W.Rossi & Castaldo, C. euplecti Santam., C. zethopsi (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav.; twelve on Scydmaeninae (Staphylinidae): C. cauliculatus (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav., C. danicus Santam. sp. nov., C. geniculatus Thaxt., C. incurvatus (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav., C. isabellae W.Rossi, C. javanus Thaxt., C. nigromarginatus (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav., C. pinguis Santam. & W.Rossi, C. sarawakensis (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav., C. scydmaenarius (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav., C. scydmaenicola (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav., C. tricornis Santam. & W.Rossi; one on Cryptophagidae: C. cryptophagi Santam. sp. nov., and the last on Forficulidae (Dermaptera): C. laboulbenioides (Thaxt.) I.I.Tav. This genus is well-recognized chiefly by two characteristics: (1) appendage consisting of cells functioning themselves as phialides or with lateral sessile or subsessile antheridia, and (2) perithecial wall cells are equal or subequal in length and five in number for each vertical row.

Key to the Danish species (partially following Santamaria 2003)

1. Appendage entirely hyaline, lacking brown suffusions.................................................................... 2

– Appendage with the 1–3 basal cells ± darkened, especially towards the outer margin. On several genera of Col. Staphylinidae Pselaphinae ........................................................... C. euplecti Santam.

2. Cell III not in contact with cell I. Cells II and III superposed.......................................................... 3

– Cell III in contact with cell I. Cells II and III adnate, ± parallel, separated by a vertical or strongly oblique septum. On Bibloplectus Reitter, 1882 and Plectophloeus Reitter, 1891 (Col. Staphylinidae Pselaphinae)............................................................................................... C. bibloplecti T.Majewski

3. One to few stout solitary antheridia on the inner side of each of the 1–5 appendage lowermost cells, especially on the first, next above the primary septum. On several genera of Col. Staphylinidae Pselaphinae but mostly on Brachygluta Thomson, 1859 .... C. elegans (Maire) W.Rossi & Castaldo

– Antheridia unknown or, if present, not as above .............................................................................. 4

4. Appendage ± elongate, consisting of several superposed globose cells. Perithecial apex with four small teeth below the conical tip. On Bryaxis Kugelann, 1794 (Col. Staphylinidae Pselaphinae) ..... ..................................................................................................................... C. bryaxidis T.Majewski

– Appendage and perithecial apex different. On beetles other than pselaphids .................................. 5

5. Cell VII very large, distinctively bulging. Cell I with a thin marginal dark stripe. On Cryptophagus (Col. Cryptophagidae) ..................................................................... C. cryptophagi Santam. sp. nov.

– Cell VII normal. Cell I without darkening on the margin. On Euconnus wetterhallii (Col. Staphylinidae Scydmaeninae)........................................................................................ C. danicus Santam. sp. nov.