Hirsutella vermicola M. C. Xiang & Xing Z. Liu, in Xiang, Yang, Xiao, Liu & Chen, Fungal Diversity 22: 258 (2006)

Fig. 5

Description

(HKAS 132167). Parasitic pupa of Lepidoptera, buried in soil. Sexual morph not observed in natural substrates. Asexual morph: Synnemata 2–6 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, cylindrical with tapering tip, stipitate, gradually become white or green yellowish to the upper portion, scattered on the insect head, without fertile head. Phialide solitary along synnema, 15.2–25.5 × 1.3–4.8 µm (x – = 20.3 × 3.1 µm, n = 60), solitary, upright, typically cylindrical, with a wider base that gradually narrows towards the top 7.2–15.3 × 2.4–4.8 µm (x – = 11.2 × 3.6 µm, n = 60), tapering into a long neck 7.5–11.5 µm long, has a rough surface, featuring verrucose projections. Conidia 4.6–6.8 × 2.2–3.2 µm (x – = 5.7 × 2.7 µm, n = 60), fusiform or oval, 1 - celled, hyaline.

Material examined.

China • Guizhou Province, Zunyi City, Xishui National Nature Reserve, at 1069 masl, 28.494°N, 106.388°E, parasitic on pupa of Lepidoptera, buried in soil, 10 April 2023, Yu Yang, XS 2310, XS 2311 (HKAS 132167, HKAS 132168).

Notes.

Hirsutella vermicola, introduced by Xiang et al. (2006), was found in bacteria-feeding nematodes in the United States. Phylogenetic analysis showed that our new isolates, HKAS 132167 and HKAS 132168, are nested with Hirsutella vermicola (CGMCC 3.7877, AS 3.7878, and AS 3.7879) (Fig. 1). Morphologically, our new isolate is almost identical to Hirsutella vermicola except for the conidia (Xiang et al. 2006). Our new isolate has smaller conidia than the holotype of H. vermicola (4.6–6.8 µm vs. 6–8 µm) (Xiang et al. 2006). The molecular data of our new isolate (HKAS 132168) are not significantly different from those of Hirsutella vermicola (CGMCC 3.7877, AS 3.7878, and AS 3.7879). Thus, we identified our new isolate as H. vermicola. This is the first report of H. vermicola parasitic on the pupa of Lepidoptera, which broadens the range of hosts. Furthermore, this is the first report of H. vermicola in China.