Monoicomyces drusillae Santam.

Santamaria, Sergi & Pedersen, Jan, 2021, Laboulbeniomycetes (Fungi, Ascomycota) of Denmark, European Journal of Taxonomy 781, pp. 1-425 : 339-340

Monoicomyces drusillae Santam.

MB#834606

Fig. 85A–B

Nova Hedwigia 110 (3-4): 359 ( Santamaria et al. 2020a). –

Type: “ Spain, Barcelona, Mura , Riera de Nespres , 41°41′55″ N, 1°58′33″ E, 449 m a.s.l., 14.IX.1991, S. Santamaria, on Drusilla canaliculata (Fabricius) ( Coleoptera Staphylinidae ), det. S. Santamaria, slide BCB-SS1099b (HOLOTYPE)”; BCB.

Diagnostic features

Primary appendage simple or once branched above the basal cell. Cell III barrel-shaped, longer than broad, with a darkened outer margin. Two to four secondary appendages for each antheridium. Fourth tier of antheridium consisting of two prominent cells. Each antheridium including four phialides. Perithecial stalk cell narrower and darkened in its lower half.

Distribution and hosts

Recently described on Drusilla canaliculata (Col. Staphylinidae Aleocharinae ) from Spain (type), probably also from United Kingdom ( Weir & Beakes 1993) and from Poland ( Majewski 2008) where the records on the same host as the type were referred to M. homalotae .

Collections examined from Denmark

On Drusilla canaliculata (Fabricius, 1787) (Col. Staphylinidae Aleocharinae ) DENMARK – Nordøstjylland (NEJ) • Bønderskoven i Tofte Skov ; 56°49.955′ N, 10°14.981′ E; NH79; 8–22 Aug. 2013; I. Aggerholm 934; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123434 .

Remarks

First record from Denmark. As mentioned in the protologue, this species should be carefully compared with M. homalotae from which it may be distinguished by the constricted and darkened cell VI, the four phialides in the antheridium, and by the secondary receptacles showing constrictions at the septa separating the antheridial tiers. Also, its special ecology supports the distinctiveness of this species from others occurring on Aleocharinae rove beetles, such as M. britannicus and M. homalotae . Drusilla canaliculata is a rove beetle that catches ants (myrmecophagous).

Figures

Fig. 85. Monoicomyces spp. A–B. M. drusillae Santam. Mature thalli. – C–E. M. fragilis Scheloske. C, E. Mature thalli. D. Primary appendage (a) and additional branch (arrow) arising from cell III. Scale bars: 50 µm. Photographs from slides ZMUC C-F-123434 (A–B), ZMUC C-F-122963 (C), ZMUC C-F- 123928 (D), ZMUC C-F-123758 (E).