Three new species of Ophiocordyceps (Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) and a new host record for Hirsutella vermicola from China

By

Yang, Yu
Xiao, Yuan-Pin
Jayawardena, Ruvishika
Hyde, Kevin D
Nilthong, Somrudee
Mapook, Ausana
Lu, Yong-Zhong
Xie, Shu-Qiong
Al-Otibi, Fatimah Olyan
Wang, Xiao
Luo, Kang
Luo, Li-Ping

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-5-13

Original Publication

MycoKeys

Volume

117

Pages

289--313

Subjects

Morphology , novel taxa , Ophiocordycipitaceae , Phylogeny , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2011-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.117.144875

 

Abstract

Ophiocordyceps, a genus of invertebrate-pathogenic fungi in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae (order Hypocreales), is globally distributed. Over 300 species have been described and accepted as members of the genus. This study introduces three new Ophiocordyceps species from China: O. liaoningensis, O. muscidarum, and O. neocommunis. Remarkably, O. muscidarum, hosted on flies (Muscidae, Diptera), is characterized by its larger perithecia and longer secondary ascospores. Ophiocordyceps neocommunis is also introduced based on morphological distinctions from closely related species. Ophiocordyceps liaoningensis produces dark brown superficial perithecia with an asexual morph at the apex and does not break into part-spores. Phylogenetic analyses using six loci (LSU, ITS, SSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2) robustly support the placement of these new species within the Ophiocordyceps. Additionally, we report a new host record for Hirsutella vermicola. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, color photo plates, and a phylogenetic tree are provided.