Pseudometarhizium W.H. Chen, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang, 2022

Chen, Wan-Hao, Liang, Jian-Dong, Ren, Xiu-Xiu, Zhao, Jie-Hong, Han, Yan-Feng & Liang, Zong-Qi, 2022, Phylogenetic, ecological and morphological characteristics reveal two new spider-associated genera in Clavicipitaceae, MycoKeys 91, pp. 49-66 : 49

Pseudometarhizium W.H. Chen, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang gen. nov.

Etymology.

Referring to Metarhizium -like colony.

Type species.

Pseudometarhizium araneogenum W.H. Chen, Y.F. Han, J.D. Liang & Z.Q. Liang.

Description.

Colonies on PDA, light green, reserve brown to light brown. Conidiophores synnematous or mononematous, erect, scattered. Phialides emerging laterally from synnemata or hyphae, forming a compact hymenium, abruptly narrowing into a helical neck. Conidia, one-celled, fusiform or ellipsoidal.

Host.

Spider ( Araneae ).

Habitat.

Near the road, located on or under rocks, or on the underside of leaves of broad-leaved plant species.

Sexual morph.

Unknown.

Notes.

The light green colonies of Pseudometarhizium are similar to those of Metarhizium species. However, Pseudometarhizium is easily distinguished by the combined datasets (ITS+LSU+RPB2+TEF), and had a close relationship with Metarhiziopsis . Pseudometarhizium can be easily distinguished from Metarhiziopsis by its paecilomyces-like structure and absence of sporodochia.