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

Fig. 4

Type.

Duyun City (26°21'27.96"N, 107°22'48.22"E), Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture , Guizhou, China. On a dead spider ( Araneae ), 1 October 2019, Wanhao Chen, GZAC DY10180 (holotype), ex-type living cultures, DY101801 .

Description.

Spider host completely covered by white mycelium. Conidiophores mononematous, arise from the lateral hyphae. Colonies irregularly on PDA, 1.8-2.8 cm diam. after 14 d at 25 °C, white, consisting of a basal felt, floccose hyphal overgrowth, reverse yellowish to pale brown or green. Prostrate hyphae smooth, septate, hyaline, 1.0-1.2 μm diam. Erect conidiophores usually arising from aerial hyphae. Phialides solitary or in groups of two, 8.3-23.3 × 1.3-2.2 μm, with a cylindrical basal portion, tapering into a short distinct neck. Conidia in chains, hyaline, fusiform, one-celled, 3.4-5.8 × 1.4-1.8 μm. Sexual state not observed.

Host.

Spider ( Araneidae ).

Habitat.

Near the road, located on or under rocks.

Etymology.

Referring to the ability to colonize spiders.

Additional specimen examined.

Duyun City (26°21'27.96"N, 107°22'48.22"E) Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou, China. On a dead spider ( Araneae ), 1 October 2019, Wanhao Chen, GZAC DY10174, living cultures, DY101741, DY101742.

Remarks.

Pseudometarhizium araneogenum distinguished from P. lepidopterorum , which has longer phialides (21.2-33.7 × 1.1-1.4 μm) and smaller conidia (3.1-4.3 × 1.3-1.5 μm).

Figures

Figure 4. Pseudometarhizium araneogenum A infected spider B, C culture growing on PDA, B front and C the reverse sides of the colony D-L solitary phialides, or groups of two, conidia in short chains and individual. Scale bars: 10 mm (B, C); 10 μm (D-L).