Eusynaptomyces benjaminii,spec. nova, (Ascomycetes,Laboulbeniales) und seine Anpassungen an das Fortpflanzungsverhalten seines WirtesEnochrus testaceus (Coleoptera,Hydrophilidae)

Eusynaptomyces benjaminii is described as a new species of the ectoparasiticLaboulbeniales (Ascomycetes). It exists only on two very restricted areas of the body (= position specifity) of its hostEnochrus testaceus (F.) (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae): on the claws of the right fore-leg and on the lower side of the frontal border of the pronotum. In these two habitatsEu. benjaminii develops two extremely different growth-forms. Male and female hosts are parasitized on somewhat different parts of their body. This can be explained by their mating behaviour. The growth-forms ofEu. benjaminii are so different that one ignorant of the biology of hosts and parasites, might regard them as members of different species or even genera. They are to be interpreted as adaptations of one species to growth positions and mating behaviour of the host. There is no sex-of-host specifity as assumed by certain authors for several species of theLaboulbeniales.