Paradingleyomyces lepidopterorum Y. Wang tris & T. C. Wen

Wang, Yi, Wei, De-Ping, Peng, Xing-Can, Kang, Ji-Chuan, Li, Zeng-Zhi, Li, Chun-Ru, Zhang, Xian, Wang, Gui-Ying, Zhou, Yun, He, Xin-Sheng, Chomnunti, Putarak & Wen, Ting-Chi, 2024, Interesting mycoparasites and Paradingleyomyces lepidopterorum gen. et sp. nov. (Hypocreales, Polycephalomycetaceae) from Yunnan Province, China, MycoKeys 110, pp. 185-210 : 185-210

Paradingleyomyces lepidopterorum Y. Wang tris & T. C. Wen sp. nov.

Fig. 2

Etymology.

This epithet is named after the order of its primary host: Lepidoptera.

Description.

Parasitic on Ophiocordyceps cf. cochlidiicola . Stromata of host fungus are 55–180 mm in length, 1–3 mm in width, multiple, unbranched, brown at base becoming off-white toward the apex, fibrous, narrowly cylindrical to filiform. Sexual morph: Subiculum white, cottony, covering the stromata of host fungus. Perithecia 240–690 × 110–360 μm (x ̄ = 430 × 228 μm, n = 25), emerging from subiculum, superficial, scattered or dense, flesh-colored, ovoid or ellipsoidal. Asci 150–400 × 3–8 μm (x ̄ = 289 × 5 μm, n = 30), cylindrical, hyaline, with an apical cap. Apical cap 3–5 × 1–4 μm (x ̄ = 3.8 × 2.3 μm, n = 40), hemispherical. Ascospores filiform, multiseptate, breaking into many secondary ascospores at maturity. Secondary ascospores 2–4 × 0.5–1 μm (x ̄ = 2.5 × 0.9 μm, n = 50), hyaline, aseptate, smooth-walled, cylindrical with truncated ends. Asexual morph: Undetermined.

Distribution.

China: Yunnan Province.

Material examined.

Holotype: China • Yunnan Province, Tengchong County, Houqiao Town ; 5 Nov. 2022; Collected by Yi Wang; Parasitic on the stromata of Perennicordyceps cf. elaphomyceticola ; GYY 543 H ( HKAS 131926 ) • Paratypes: ibid; GYY 543 Z ( HKAS 131927 ), TC 327 ( HKAS 131921 ) .

Notes.

Paradingleyomyces lepidopterorum lives as a hyperparasite on the remnant stromata of Ophiocordyceps cf. cochlidiicola . The aging stromata of the host fungus become covered with the perithecia of the hyperparasitic fungus, which closely resemble those of the host. However, the key distinguishing feature is that the hyperparasitic perithecia are flesh-colored and grow on a white subiculum, whereas the host’s perithecia are dark brown and directly connected to the stroma (Fig. 2 D ). Paradingleyomyces lepidopterorum and Dingleyomyces lloydii are morphologically very similar, but they can be easily distinguished from Perennicordyceps species by the presence of a white subiculum from which the perithecia arise (Table 2 ). In contrast, Perennicordyceps is characterized by cylindrical to clavate, branching stromata with the host and rhizomorphs embedded in the substrate. Dingleyomyces lloydii produce crown-like perithecia on the stromata of Ophiocordyceps hauturu and O. robertsii , while the perithecia of Pa. lepidopterorum sporadically form on the stromata of O. cf. cochlidiicola .

Figures

Figure 2. Paradingleyomyces lepidopterorum (HKAS 131926, holotype) A habitat B stromata growing from the host C host D perithecia of Pa. lepidopterorum (white arrow) and Ophiocordyceps cf. cochlidiicola (black arrow) E – G perithecia forming on white subiculum H vertical section of perithecium. I Peridium J – L asci M, N apical cap of asci O – Q secondary ascospores. Scale bars: 1 mm (E – G); 500 μm (H); 100 μm (I); 50 μm (J, K); 25 μm (L); 20 μm (M, N); 5 μm (O – Q).