Phylogeny- and morphology-based recognition of new species in the spider-parasitic genus Gibellula (Hypocreales, Cordycipitaceae) from Thailand

Abstract

Thailand is known to be a part of what is called the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, hosting a vast array of organisms across its diverse ecosystems. This is reflected by the increasing number of new species described over time, especially fungi. However, a very few fungal species from the specialized spider-parasitic genus Gibellula have ever been reported from this region. A survey of invertebrate-pathogenic fungi in Thailand over several decades has led to the discovery of a number of fungal specimens with affinities to this genus. Integration of morphological traits into multi-locus phylogenetic analysis uncovered four new species: G. cebrennini, G. fusiformispora, G. pigmentosinum, and G. scorpioides. All these appear to be exclusively linked with torrubiella-like sexual morphs with the presence of granulomanus-like asexual morph in G. pigmentosinum and G. cebrennini. A remarkably high host specificity of these new species towards their spider hosts was revealed, and for the first time, evidence is presented for manipulation of host behavior in G. scorpioides.

Comprehensive treatise of Hevansia and three new genera Jenniferia, Parahevansia and Polystromomyces on spiders in Cordycipitaceae from Thailand

“…Based on the natural specimens, the sexual morph of species within Jenniferia produce non-stipitate ascomata. The lack of stipe is a shared trait amongst pathogenic fungi species on spiders in Cordycipitaceae, such as Gibellula spp., Akanthomyces thailandicus and A. sulphureus, forming a torrubiella-like sexual morph (Mongkolsamrit et al 2018;Kuephadungphan et al 2020). However, species in Jenniferia described here can be easily distinguished from species in Gibellula spp., A. thailandicus and A. sulphureus by the superficial and aggregated perithecia in clusters forming a cushion (a distinctive character of Jenniferia), causing species in this genus to be easily recognisable in the field.…”

Morphological and molecular analyses reveal two new species of Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from China

“…Microscopic observations were made from squash mounts and sections made from fresh material. The fresh structures were mounted in water for measurements and lactophenol cotton blue solution for microphotography, following Kuephadungphan et al (2020) . We observed microscopic characteristics, such as size and shape of conidia, phialide, vesicles, metulae and conidiophores using a ZEISS Axiolab 5 microscope.…”

“… References: ( Sanjuan et al 2014 ; Kepler et al 2017 ; Rehner et al 2011 ; Spatafora et al 2007 ; Luangsa-ard et al 2005; Helaly et al 2019 ; Sung et al 2007; Sung et al 2001; Johnson et al 2009 ; Kuephadungphan et al 2020 ; Chirivi-Salomon et al 2015; Kepler et al 2012 ; Sung and Spatafora 2004; Tsang et al 2016 ; Kuephadungphan et al 2019 ; Helaly et al 2017 ) …”

“…( Shrestha et al 2019 ). Of the above genera, only Gibellula and Hevansia are exclusively spider–pathogenic and present host specificity ( Shrestha et al 2019 ; Kuephadungphan et al 2020 ). Gibellula species are amongst the most common spider pathogens in the world and are distributed from temperate to subtropical and tropical regions.…”

“…Recently, current nomenclature, diversity and distributions of Gibellula were reviewed and seventeen Gibellula species were recognised ( Shrestha et al 2019 ). Since then, five new species were described ( Kuephadungphan et al 2020 ; Chen et al 2021 ): G. cebrennini Tasan., Kuephadungphan & Luangsa-ard, G. fusiformispora Tasan., Kuephadungphan & Luangsa-ard, G. pigmentosinum Tasan., Kuephadungphan & Luangsa-ard, G. scorpioides Tasan., Khons., Kuephadungphan & Luangsa-ard and G. flava Ming J. Chen & B. Huang. In all, we consider the genus Gibellula to include 22 species.…”