Pleurodesmospora acaricola sp. nov. and a new record of Pleurodesmospora coccorum (Cordycipitaceae, Ascomycota) in Taiwan

Pleurodesmospora is an anamorphic genus with two known species recorded mainly on chitinous substrates such as insects, mites, spiders, and foliicolous fungi in tropical and subtropical areas. A further fungus with similar morphology of conidiophores and conidiogenous cells was found on a dead mite on a living fern (Angiopteris lygodiifolia). Isolated in culture, this fungus produced white dusty colonies. Morphologically, the new strain from the mite differs from the two known Pleurodesmospora species by non-catenate conidia and chlamydospores and is, therefore, proposed as new species. The tea whitefly, Aleurocanthus camelliae, was found as new host of Pleurodesmospora coccorum in Taiwan. The ITS sequences of these isolates are similar to those of other Pleurodesmospora strains. A phylogenetic analysis of a combined ITS and TEF sequence dataset indicates the presence of cryptic species in Pleurodesmospora.

Automated summary

Pleurodesmospora is an anamorphic genus with two known species found mainly on chitinous substrates in tropical and subtropical areas, including insects, mites, spiders, and foliicolous fungi. A new fungus species with different morphology from the known ones was discovered on a dead mite on a living fern. Analysis of ITS sequences showed similarity with other Pleurodesmospora strains, indicating the presence of cryptic species in the genus. The tea whitefly was identified as a new host of Pleurodesmospora coccorum in Taiwan.