Dimeromyces corynetis Thaxt.

MB#569544

Fig. 71

Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 48: 157 (Thaxter 1912a, as D. Corynitis). –

Type: “ On the elytra of CorYnites ruficollis Fabr., La Plata, No. 1459 ”; FH. [Argentina]

Diagnostic features

Male thalli consisting of 5–8 superposed cells separated by horizontal septa, bearing lateral flask-shaped compound antheridia, and an apical unbranched, unicellular, rounded primary appendage (Fig. 71D, pa). Female thalli consisting of 4–6 superposed cells separated by horizontal septa. The 2nd and/or 3rd cells bear a unicellular secondary appendage (Fig. 71A, arrow). The 3rd and/or 4th cells give rise to perithecia. The uppermost cell supports a long, multicellular, unbranched secondary appendage and the rounded primary appendage (Fig. 71A, *). [Detailed descriptions: Thaxter 1924; Santamaria 2003; Majewski 2006]

Distribution and hosts

This species has been reported from Argentina (type), USA (Thaxter 1924), United Kingdom (Hincks 1960), France (Balazuc 1974f), Italy (Rossi 1975), Spain (Santamaria 1994), Poland (Majewski 2006), Sweden (Huggert 2010), and Czech Republic (Rossi et al. 2019b). Occurs on Necrobia (= Corynetes) (Col. Cleridae).

Collections examined from Denmark

On Necrobia ruficollis (Fabricius, 1775) (Col. Cleridae) DENMARK – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Høvblege; 54°57.853′ N, 12°30.666′ E; UA49; 28 Jul. 2000; JP Dry0029; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124099 . – Sydjylland (SJ) • Åbenrå; 55°2.474′ N, 9°25.451′ E; NF29; 20 Sep. 2009; JP Dry0030; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-124100 .

Remarks

First record from Denmark. This species shows a patchy distribution likely due to lack of investigation, probably because the capture of its hosts is complicated by its specialized habitat, viz., in rotting corpses and other unpleasant-smelling substances such as rotting grains where they feed on the meat-infesting larvae of blow flies ( Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, Diptera Calliphoridae), Dermestidae (Coleoptera) and Piophilidae (Diptera) . The cells above the basal cell may undergo divisions giving rise to additional secondary appendages or perithecia.