Pseudometarhizium lepidopterorum W.H. Chen, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang, 2022

Chen, Wan-Hao, Liang, Jian-Dong, Ren, Xiu-Xiu, Zhao, Jie-Hong, Han, Yan-Feng & Liang, Zong-Qi, 2022, Phylogenetic, ecological and morphological characteristics reveal two new spider-associated genera in Clavicipitaceae, MycoKeys 91, pp. 49-66 : 49

Pseudometarhizium lepidopterorum W.H. Chen, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang sp. nov.

Fig. 5

Type.

Sandu County (25°57'22.21"N, 107°57'54.69"E), Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture , Guizhou, China. On a pupa ( Lepidoptera), 1 May 2019, Wanhao Chen, GZAC SD0536 (holotype), ex-type living cultures, SD05361 .

Description. Host pupa completely covered by white mycelium. Conidiophores arising from lateral hyphae of the synnemata. Colonies on PDA, 1.4-2.0 cm diam. after 14 d at 25 °C, white, consisting of a basal felt and cottony, floccose hyphal overgrowth, reverse yellowish to pale green. Prostrate hyphae smooth, septate, hyaline, 1.0-2.0 μm diam. Erect conidiophores usually arising from aerial hyphae. Phialides solitary or in groups of two to three, 21.2-33.7 × 1.1-1.4 μm, with a cylindrical basal portion, tapering into a short distinct neck. Conidia in chains, hyaline, fusiform, one-celled, 3.1-4.3 × 1.3-1.5 μm. Sexual state not observed.

Host.

Pupa ( Lepidoptera).

Habitat.

On the underside of leaves of broad-leaved plant species.

Additional strain examined.

Sandu County (25°57'22.21"N, 107°57'54.69"E) Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou, China. On a pupa ( Lepidoptera), 1 May 2019, Wanhao Chen, SD05362.

Etymology.

Referring to its insect host, order Lepidoptera.

Remarks.

Pseudometarhizium lepidopterorum distinguished from P. araneogenum , which has shorter phialides (8.3-23.3 × 1.3-2.2 μm) and longer conidia (3.4-5.8 × 1.4-1.8 μm).

Figures

Figure 5. Pseudometarhizium lepidopterorum A infected pupa (Lepidoptera) B, C culture on PDA showing B front and C reverse sides of the colony D-L solitary phialides, or groups of two to three, and conidia in short chains and individual. Scale bars: 10 mm (B, C); 10 μm (D-L).