Ophiocordyceps camponoti-bispinosi Araújo, H.C. Evans & D.P. Hughes, 2015

Araújo, João P. M., Evans, Harry C., Geiser, David M., Mackay, William P. & Hughes, David P., 2015, Unravelling the diversity behind the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (Ophiocordycipitaceae) complex: Three new species of zombie-ant fungi from the Brazilian Amazon, Phytotaxa 220 (3), pp. 224-238 : 229

Ophiocordyceps camponoti-bispinosi Araújo, H.C. Evans & D.P. Hughes , sp. nov. ( Fig.3 )IF 550744.

Differs from other members of the O. unilateralis clade by the host (always Camponotus bispinosus ), ascospore morphology and germination. Club-shaped terminal part of the stroma.

Type: — BRAZIL. Amazonas: Reserva Adolpho Ducke, 2° 57’ 42” S, 59° 55’ 40” W, 100 m, on Camponotus bispinosus Mayr , 15 January 2012, J.P.M. Araújo & H. C. Evans B-77, ( INPA (261936, holotype!, FEM 90327, isotype!).

Mycelium dark-brown to black; forming aggregations of hyphae on the intersegmental membranes. Stroma single, produced anterior to pronotum, averaging 5–7 mm in length; cylindrical, black, with a cream-white swollen terminal part; fertile ascomatal region lateral, forming a single globose cushion, initially dark brown becoming black with age, averaging 0.8 × 0.4–0.7 mm. Perithecia immersed to slightly erumpent, globose to flask-shaped, 250–290 × 150–170 μm, with a short neck. Asci 8-spored, hyaline, cylindrical to clavate, (90–) 110–130 × (7–) 8–8.5 (–9.5) μm; with a small but prominent cap, 3.5 × 4.5 μm. Ascospores hyaline, thin-walled, cylindrical, (60–) 70–75 (–80) × 4.5–5 (–6), 4–5 septate, round and slightly narrow at the apices.

Etymology: Named after the ant host, Camponotus (Myrmocladoecus) bispinosus Mayr.

Asexual-morph: —Hirsutella-like A type only, produced at the swollen upper part of stroma; phialides cylindrical to lageniform, 6 × 2.5–3μm, tapering to a long hair-like neck, 10–16 μm length; conidia narrow limoniform, averaging 6–7 × 2 μm, with a distinct tail.

Germination process: —Spores germinated 48–72 h after release, consistently producing a single, straight, robust capilliconidiophore, (50–) 65 (–80) μm, bearing a single terminal capilliconidium, 10–11 × 3–4 μm, hyaline, smooth-walled, slightly truncate at the base.

Habitat: —Brazilian Central Amazon. Often biting palm-tree parts, commonly on spines or tip-edge of the frond; mycelium growing from mouth, attaching the ant to the substrate; rarely on broad-leaved plants.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — BRAZIL. Reserva Adolpho Ducke: Manaus, 2° 57’ 42”S, 59° 55’ 40” W, 100m elevation, 12 January 2012, Araújo, H.C. Evans & D.P. Hughes, A35 (paratype INPA 261939)!.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Ophiocordyceps camponoti-bispinosi a) Infected Camponotus bispinosus biting into tip of palm leaf; b) Close-up showing biting behavior; c) Section through ascoma showing perithecial arrangement (bar = 100 μm); d) Ascospore after 48 h germinating with a single capilliconidiophore with a capilliconidium at the tip (bar = 10 μm), upper right corner shows the capilliconidium in close-up (bar = 10 μm); e) Section of perithecium showing the arrangement of asci (bar = 50 μm); f-g) Detail showing the prominent ascus cap (bar = 10 μm); h) Section of the swollen stromatal tip with the asexual morph (Hirsutella-like A) (bar = 10 μm). Images: João Araújo.