Rhachomyces philonthinus Thaxt.

Santamaria, Sergi & Pedersen, Jan, 2021, Laboulbeniomycetes (Fungi, Ascomycota) of Denmark, European Journal of Taxonomy 781, pp. 1-425 : 90-92

Rhachomyces philonthinus Thaxt.

MB#191909

Figs 18A–B , 102B

Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 35: 435 ( Thaxter 1900). –

Type: [Not designated] [Ind. loc.] “ On Philonthus longicornis Steph. , British Museum, No. 408, Island of St. Helena; on Philonthus sp. indet., Hope Coll., No. 225, British Isles. On abdomen and elytra”; FH.

Diagnostic features

Medium to large thalli, up to 700 µm long. Main receptacle axis continuing into a rather conspicuous lateral branch above the insertion of the perithecium, consisting of up to 20 squarish, isodiametric cells ( Fig. 18B , arrow). Appendages of the three types deeply darkened, scattered unilaterally to the main axis in a comb-like appearance. Those of type “c” with an acute and somewhat uncinate apex. Venter and neck of perithecia usually abruptly distinguished ( Fig. 18B ). [Detailed descriptions: Thaxter 1908; Sugiyama 1973; Santamaria 1989; Majewski 1994b; De Kesel 2002]

Distribution and hosts

Occurs on Philonthus and related genera ( Bisnius Stephens, 1829 , Gabrius , Spatulonthus Tottenham, 1955 , etc.) mostly collected in horse and cow dung. A very common and widespread species that has been reported from Europe, Africa, America and Asia ( Santamaria et al. 1991; Majewski 2008). Recent records are from Ecuador, Kenya and South Africa ( Proaño Castro & Rossi 2008), Denmark ( Høier 2009), Slovakia and Czech Republic ( Rossi et al. 2010).

Collections examined from Denmark

On Bisnius fimetarius (Gravenhorst, 1802) (Col. Staphylinidae Staphylininae )

DENMARK – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Sakskøbing, Tårsvej 35; 54°50.433′ N, 11°39.106′ E; PF78; 2–20 May 2018; P.N. Buhl 1175; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123699 . – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • AlbertslundGolfbane ; 55°40.750′ N, 12°19.190′ E; UB37; 6 Jan. 2018; JP 952; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123458 • Bognaes Storskov ; 55°41.242′ N, 12°1.678′ E; UB17; 18 Aug. 2013; H. Liljehult 202; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122681 • ibid.; 14 Sep. 2013; H. Liljehult 204; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122683 • Dyrehaven ; 55°47.347′ N, 12°33.957′ E; UB47; 7 May 2000; H. Liljehult 203; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122682 . – Sydjylland ( SJ) • Kruså ; 54°50.594′ N, 9°23.797′ E; NF27; 25 Apr. 2003; H. Liljehult 205; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122684 . – Sydsjaelland (SZ) • Haslev ; 55°19.669′ N, 11°58.206′ E; PG83; 19 Jun. 2016; JP 324; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122802 • Sorø, Kristiansminde ; 55°25.115′ N, 11°35.209′ E; PG64; 15 Aug. 2013; JP 393; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122876 .

On Philonthus confinis Strand, 1941 (Col. Staphylinidae Staphylininae )

DENMARK – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • Tibirke Bakker ; 56°1.885′ N, 12°5.295′ E; UC11; 24 Apr. 2020; JP 1653; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124375 .

On Philonthus coprophilus Jarrige, 1949 (Col. Staphylinidae Staphylininae )

DENMARK – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Jydelejet, Møns Klint ; 54°59.171′ N, 12°31.954′ E; UA49; 2 May 2018; JP 1097; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123615 .

On Philonthus cruentatus (Gmelin, 1790) (Col. Staphylinidae Staphylininae )

DENMARK – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Høvblege ; 54°57.826′ N, 12°30.574′ E; UB20; 10 Jun. 2017; JP 432; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122917 • ibid.; 6 Sep. 2019; JP 1513; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124268 • Jydelejet, Møns Klint ; 54°59.171′ N, 12°31.954′ E; UA49; 2 May 2018; JP 1098; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123616 .

On Philonthus fumarius (Gravenhorst, 1806) (Col. Staphylinidae Staphylininae )

DENMARK – Østjylland (EJ) • Klostermølle ; 56°2.432′ N, 9°41.629′ E; NH41; 20 May 2013; JP 370; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122853 . – Fyn (F) • Rishave ; 55°33.475′ N, 10°24.013′ E; NG85; 19 Apr. 2018; JP 1069; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123586 . – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Jydelejet , Møns Klint; 54°58.979′ N, 12°32.281′ E; UA49; 2 May 2018; A.K. Hansen 1099; A.K. Hansen det.; ZMUC C-F-123617 • Lysemose ved Maribo; 54°46.971′ N, 11°28.959′ E; PF57; 7 May 2017; JP 651; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123140 • Ulvshale ; 55°2.636′ N, 12°15.638′ E; UB20; 26 May 2018; JP 1114; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123634 . – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • Faergelunden ; 55°50.540′ N, 12°1.735′ E; UB19; 16 Nov. 2013; JP 598; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123087 • Helvigstrup Skov ; 55°33.131′ N, 11°52.949′ E; PG86; 24 Apr. 2007; H. Liljehult 1459; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124010 • Indelukket ved Frederiksborg Slot; 55°56.191′ N, 12°17.861′ E; UC30; 12 Apr. 2016; JP 13; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122486 • ibid.; 19 Mar. 2017; JP 675; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123164 . – Nordvestsjaelland (NWZ) • Sonnerup Skov ; 55°56.525′ N, 11°33.988′ E; PH60; 1 Apr. 2017; JP 257; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122737. – Sydsjaelland (SZ) • Holmegårds Mose ; 55°17.685′ N, 11°47.928′ E; PG73; 31 Mar. 2019; JP 1410; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123956 .

On Philonthus marginatus (Müller, 1764) (Col. Staphylinidae Staphylininae )

DENMARK – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Møns Klint, Syd ; 54°56.806′ N, 12°32.340′ E; UA49; 25 Jul.–15 Aug. 2013; O. Karsholt 105; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122580 .

On Philonthus parvicornis (Gravenhorst, 1802) (Col. Staphylinidae Staphylininae ) DENMARK – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Høvblege ; 54°57.826′ N, 12°30.574′ E; UB20; 10 Jun. 2017; JP 431; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122916 .

On Philonthus varians (Paykull, 1789) (Col. Staphylinidae Staphylininae )

DENMARK – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • Saltholm ; 55°39.546′ N, 12°45.864′ E; UB57; 13 Sep. 2006; H. Liljehult 1460; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124011 • Vaserne ; 55°49.129′ N, 12°26.343′ E; UB38; 20 Jan. 2018; M. Kofoed-Hansen 1000; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123507 . – Nordvestsjaelland (NWZ) • Klintebjerg ved Klint; 55°57.351′ N, 11°34.463′ E; PH60; 1 May 2016; JP 54; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122529 • ibid.; 1 Apr. 2017; JP 245; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122725 • Nordbredden af Skarresø ; 55°39.469′ N, 11°23.147′ E; PG47; 21 Apr. 2018; JP 1058; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123575 . – Sydjylland (SJ) • Margrethe Kog ; 54°55.711′ N, 8°40.149′ E; MF78; 1 Jun. 2013; JP 206; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122685 . – Sydsjaelland (SZ) • Bimose i Broby Overdrev ; 55°23.921′ N, 11°35.499′ E; PG64; 30 Jun.–2 Jul. 2013; JP 207; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-122686 • Østerskov ved Langebaek ; 54°59.572′ N, 12°6.715′ E; UA19; 3 Jan. 2019; JP 1302; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123836 .

Remarks

One of the most common species in Denmark.

Figures

Fig. 18. Rhachomyces spp. A–B. R. philonthinus Thaxt. Mature thalli. In B, the lateral branch from the primary axis (a diagnostic character) is labelled (arrow). – C–D. R. pilosellus (C.P.Robin) Thaxt. Mature thalli with labelled blackened diagonal strip traversing cells I and II (arrows). –E–F. R. spinosus Santam. & Cuesta-Segura. Mature thalli. In E, primary septum (a) and spinous original spore apex (sx) are labelled. Scale bars: 50 µm. Photographs from slides ZMUC C-F-122681 (A), ZMUC C-F-122685 (B), ZMUC C-F-123833 (C–D), ZMUC C-F-123296 (E), ZMUC C-F-123062 (F).

Fig. 102. Habitus of hosts with fungi. Some thalli are zoomed in, and others are encircled. A. Othius punctulatus with thalli of Rhachomyces furcatus. B. Philonthus fumarius with thalli of Rhachomyces philonthinus on the ventral side of the last 4 abdominal segments and a few on the left hind leg. C. Catops tristis heavily infested with Asaphomyces cholevae all over the body, even on the ventral side this specimen has just as many thalli. Scale bars: 1 mm. (Photos: Aslak Kappel Hansen).