Hesperomyces virescens Thaxt.

MB#140369

Fig. 53C–D

Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 25: 264 (Thaxter 1891). – Stigmatomyces virescens Thaxt. (Thaxter 1894: 106) [MB#181575]. –

Type: “ On Chilocorus bivulnerus, California ”; FH. [USA]

Hesperomyces hyperaspidis Thaxt. (Thaxter 1931: 111) [MB#267531]

Diagnostic features

Thallus bright yellow. Primary appendage consisting of (3–)4 superposed cells, where the 3 rd and 4 th bear one and two antheridia respectively. Perithecial tip with two very short and narrow lower lobes, two elongated upper lobes and two prominent lips surrounding the ostiole. [Detailed descriptions: Weir & Beakes 1996; Santamaria 2003; De Kesel 2011]

Distribution and hosts

A very common and widespread species. Reported on no less than 30 species and 20 genera of ladybird species (Col. Coccinellidae) from the five continents (Haelewaters et al. 2017). Also reported from Denmark (see Table 1).

Collections examined from Denmark

On Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Col. Coccinellidae) DENMARK – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • Blågårds Plads, Nørrebro; 55°41.183′ N, 12°33.424′ E; UB47; 8 Nov. 2007; T. Steenberg Dry0047; T. Steenberg det.; ZMUC C-F-124113 • Grøndalsparken, Vanløse; 55°41.351′ N, 12°30.518′ E; UB47; May 2011; T. Steenberg Dry0043; T. Steenberg det.; ZMUC C-F-124109 • Grønningen, København K.; 55°41.385′ N, 12°35.435′ E; UB47; 15 Jan. 2008; T. Steenberg Dry0044; T. Steenberg det.; ZMUC C-F-124110 • Kongens Have, København K.; 55°41.107′ N, 12°34.766′ E; UB47; 10 Nov. 2007; T. Steenberg Dry0045; T. Steenberg det.; ZMUC C-F-124111 • Thorvaldsensvej, Frederiksberg; 55°40.857′ N, 12°32.540′ E; UB47; 26 May 2009; T. Steenberg DrY0046; T. Steenberg det.; ZMUC C-F-124112 .

Remarks

All the Danish records of this species come from specimens kept in dry museum collections. Perhaps a collective species including at least other seven undescribed taxa which have been revealed by sequencing thalli from multiple host species (Haelewaters et al. 2018a; Haelewaters & De Kesel 2020). According to Haelewaters & De Kesel (2020), the Danish samples collected on Adalia Mulsant, 1850 fall into the named Adalia -clade and should belong to some yet undescribed species separate from H. virescens, a species what is suggested by Haelewaters et al. (2018a) to be restricted to fungi found on Chilocorus Leach, 1815, as originally described.