Notes on the Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota) parasitic on Diptera from Portugal and other countries

Eighteen species of Stigmatomyces are reported for the first time from continental Portugal and/or from the Azores. These are Stigmatomyces asteiae W. Rossi et Cesari, Stigmatomyces athyroglossae W. Rossi et Cesari, Stigmatomycescanzonerii W. Rossi et Cesari, Stigmatomyces ceratophorus Whisler, Stigmatomyces constrictus Thaxt., Stigmatomyces crassicollis Thaxt., Stigmatomyces divergatus Thaxt., Stigmatomyces discocerinae Thaxt., Stigmatomyces ensinae Thaxt., Stigmatomyces cf. ephydrae L. Mercier et R. A. Poiss., Stigmatomycesgeomyzae W. Rossi et Cesari, Stigmatomyces limnophorae Thaxt., Stigmatomyces majewskii H. L. Dainat, Manier et Balazuc, Stigmatomyces papuanus Thaxt., Stigmatomycesplatensis Speg., Stigmatomyces ptylomyiae Thaxt. and Stigmatomyces purpureus Thaxt., Stigmatomyces rugosus Thaxt. New records of these species are also reported from Australia, Canada, Canary Islands (Spain), Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Kenya, Hungary, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, USA, Yemen and Zimbabwe. The new records increase, sometimes considerably, information about distribution of these parasites. Two synonymies are also established: Stigmatomyces autriquei Balazuc = Stigmatomyces ensinae Thaxt.; Stigmatomyces psilopae Thaxt. var. camarguensis H. L. Dainat et J. Dainat = S. rugosus Thaxt.     

Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota) from Bulgaria and other countries

Fifty-two species of the Laboulbeniales are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. One new species of Diphymyces, parasitic on Hexaurus schipkaensis is also described. The total number of species from Bulgaria is thus raised from 15 to 68. The first records of any of the Laboulbeniales are reported from Armenia, Eritrea, Georgia and Kazakhstan; more new records are reported also from Albania, China, Cyprus, Hungary, Italy, Mongolia, Namibia, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Yemen. The antheridia of Misgomyces dyschirii are described and illustrated.     

New Laboulbeniales parasitic on endogean ground beetles

Three new species of Laboulbenia occurring on endogean Carabidae are described. These are L. lucifuga, parasitic on Winklerites spp. from Greece, L. magrinii, parasitic on Typloreicheia spp. from Italy, Reicheia spp. from Italy and Corsica and L. vailatii, parasitic on Coecoparvus spp. from Greece. New characters of L. coiffatii and L. endogea are pointed out, and the genus Scalenomyces is synonymized with Laboulbenia.     

New and interesting Laboulbeniales parasitic on Brazilian Diptera

Three new Laboulbeniales occurring on Brazilian Diptera are described. These are Stigmatomyces cearensis, parasitic on Guttipsilopa (Nesopsilopa) stonei (Mathis & Wirth) (Ephydridae); Stigmatmyces gratiellae, parasitic on Cressonomyia meridionalis (Cresson) (Ephydridae); and Stigmatomyces litoralis, parasitic on Glenanthe caribea Mathis and Paraglenanthe bahamensis Wirth (both Ephydridae). Fifteen other dipterophilous Laboulbeniales are reported for the first time from Brazil. The synonomy between Stigmatomyces notiphilae Thaxt. and S. leucophengae Thaxt. also is proposed.     

Three species of the genus Laboulbenia (Laboulbeniales) parasitic on Chydaeus bedeli (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from Asia

Three species of the genus Laboulbenia were recorded on Chydaeus bedeli (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Harpalini) from high-altitude localities in Asia. Laboulbenia obtusa was obtained from tarsi of the midlegs of the male hosts; Laboulbenia acrogeniodontis was on the margins of the elytra of the male and female hosts; and Laboulbenia polyphaga was on the elytra (near the apex) and the pronotum (at the base) of the male and female hosts. Each of the three species is distinct in the shape of the perithecia and the structure of the appendages.     

Climatic effects on the distribution of ant- and bat fly-associated fungal ectoparasites (Ascomycota,Laboulbeniales)

Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniomycetes) are obligate ectoparasitic fungi of arthropods with a worldwide distribution. Their effects on host physiology and behaviour as well as their ecology have recently gained wider attention. One aspect that is virtually unknown regarding Laboulbeniales and arthropod-associated fungi in general, is how abiotic factors shape the distribution of these parasites. We used ant- and bat fly-associated Laboulbeniales to study whether climatic elements play a role in the distribution of fungal species. We collected uninfected and Laboulbeniales-infected insects belonging to three species: bat flies Nycteribia schmidlii and Penicillidia conspicua (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) and the ant Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). We used climatic variables and performed statistical analyses to explain the distribution of Laboulbeniales infection. Our results show a higher likelihood of Laboulbeniales presence in habitats with low annual mean temperature and humidity, suggesting that climatic elements can considerably shape the distribution of Laboulbeniales species.     

New species of Laboulbenia from Ecuador, with evidence for host switch in the Laboulbeniales

Ten new species of Laboulbenia from Ecuador are described. These are L. barraganii, parasitic on Platamops sp. (Salpingidae); L. biformis, parasitic on Diploharpus rossii Moret (Carabidae); L. davidsonii, parasitic on Odontocheila spp. (Carabidae); L. gregaria, parasitic on Philonthus sp. (Staphylinidae); L. micrandra, parasitic on Lobrathium sp. (Staphylinidae); L. mycotreti, parasitic on Mycotretus spp. (Erotylidae); L. opima, parasitic on Chrysodinopsis sp. (Chrysomelidae); L. otongaensis, parasitic on Diploharpus iridescens Moret (Carabidae); L. tapiae, parasitic on Priocera sp. (Cleridae); and L. trogacti, parasitic on Trogactus sp. (Staphylinidae). Laboulbenia barraganii is the first of the Laboulbeniales to be reported on beetles of the family Salpingidae. L. biformis displays a moderate dimorphism associated with the position on the host insect. L. davidsonii, which is very different from the other species of Laboulbenia reported so far on the Cicindelinae but similar to a group of species parasitic on Galerita spp., provides evidence for the occurrence of host switch in Laboulbeniales.     

Laboulbeniales hyperparasites (Fungi,Ascomycota) of bat flies: Independent origins and host associations

The aim of this study was to explore the diversity of ectoparasitic fungi (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) that use bat flies (Diptera, Hippoboscoidea) as hosts. Bat flies themselves live as ectoparasites on the fur and wing membranes of bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera); hence this is a tripartite parasite system. Here, we collected bats, bat flies, and Laboulbeniales, and conducted phylogenetic analyses of Laboulbeniales to contrast morphology with ribosomal sequence data. Parasitism of bat flies by Laboulbeniales arose at least three times independently, once in the Eastern Hemisphere (Arthrorhynchus) and twice in the Western Hemisphere (Gloeandromyces, Nycteromyces). We hypothesize that the genera Arthrorhynchus and Nycteromyces evolved independently from lineages of ectoparasites of true bugs (Hemiptera). We assessed phylogenetic diversity of the genus Gloeandromyces by considering the LSU rDNA region. Phenotypic plasticity and position‐induced morphological adaptations go hand in hand. Different morphotypes belong to the same phylogenetic species. Two species, G. pageanus and G. streblae, show divergence by host utilization. In our assessment of coevolution, we only observe congruence between the Old World clades of bat flies and Laboulbeniales. The other associations are the result of the roosting ecology of the bat hosts. This study has considerably increased our knowledge about bats and their associated ectoparasites and shown the necessity of including molecular data in Laboulbeniales taxonomy.     

The Tannea Blackwelder Species of Ecuador with Description of New Species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Osoriinae)

Two new species of the genus Tannea Blackwelder from Ecuador, Tannea hermani n. sp. and Tannea bellavistae n. sp. are herein described, and a complete list of records of all Tannea species found in Ecuador is provided together with a key to the species. Additionally, the geographic distribution of the Tannea species of Ecuador and their altitudinal distribution are discussed.     

New taxa of heliconia (Heliconiaceae) from Ecuador

Three new species (Heliconia fredberryana H. litana, andH. lutheri) and one new subspecies (H. obscura ssp.dichroma) from Ecuador are described, illustrated, and discussed.     

New species of ferns (Polypodiopsida) from Ecuador

The following new species of ferns are described and illustrated: Arachniodes squamulosa, Cyathea halonata, C. punctata, Polypodium fayorum , and Trichomanes paucisorum.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diphymyces</Emphasis> (Laboulbeniales,Ascomycota)

Four new species of Diphymyces parasitic on Leiodidae Cholevinae are described. These are D. arnaudii parasitic on Nemadiopsis spp. (Anemadini) from Chile, D. giachinoi parasitic on Nargiotes spp. (Anemadini) from Australia, D. pavicevicii parasitic on Pholeuonopsis magdelainei (Leptodirini) from Serbia, and D. pusillus parasitic on Adelopsis bioforestae (Ptomaphagini) from Ecuador.     

New species of Habracanthus (Acanthaceae) from Ecuador

Four new Ecuadorian species ofHabracanthus,H. asplundii from Pichincha,H. laxus andH. lugonis from Tungurahua, andH. luteynii from Napo, are described, illustrated, and compared with their closest relatives.     

New Elaphomyces species (Elaphomycetaceae, Eurotiales, Ascomycota) from Guyana

Elaphomyces compleximurus sp. nov. and E. digitatus sp. nov. are described from the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana. Macromorphological, micromorphological, habitat and DNA sequence data are provided for each new species. This is the first report of Elaphomyces ascomata associated with ectomycorrhizal members of the Fabaceae and also for the genus from the lowland South American tropics.     

A New species of Vernonia (Compositae) from Ecuador

Vernonia giannasii, a new species from Ecuador, is described and illustrated.     

New or interesting Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) on Japanese chlaeniine beetles (Coleoptera,Carabidae)

Four species ofLaboulbenia were isolated from Japanese chlaeniines and are reported.Laboulbenia habui is described as a new species; it is possibly related toL. fasciculata. Laboulbenia habui is characterized by the proliferation and division of cell V, resulting in the formation of an obliquely superposed series of cells from which short, cylindrical cells arise in a double row, whereas there is a single row of cubical cells inL. fasciculata. Laboulbenia humilis is new for the Japanese mycoflora; antheridia of this fungus were observed for the first time; shape of the perithecial apex, persistent antheridia and the spore size suggest thatL. humilis is not closely related toL. exigua and its related taxa. ForL. proliferans andL. fasciculata, new chlaeniine hosts are listed and some supplemental notes are given.     

New records of the carabidicolous Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) of Japan (II)

Six carabidicolous species of Laboulbeniales are reported as new for the Japanese mycoflora. They areLaboulbenia finitima, L. separata, L. borneensis, L. manubriolata, Dimeromyces caribaeus, andDixomyces ornatus. In Japan, the former three species are parasitic onMochtherus luctuosus and the latter three species onPerigona nigriceps. Laboulbenia finitima occurs on the left legs (tarsi and tibiae);L. separata on the left elytral margin:L. borneensis on the pronotum;L. manubriolata on the pronotum and elytra;Dimeromyces caribaeus on the right inferior posterior surface of the prothorax (pronotal hypomeron); andDixomyces ornatus on the outer margin of the right elytron. Comments and photographs are given for each fungus.