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Abstract
Until now Rhachomyces kenodactyli Balazuc & W. Rossi has been the only species of Laboulbeniales known to occur on Coleoptera in the Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell and Snares Islands, which lie 48° to 35° S. Four new species (Diphymyces depressus, Diphymyces leschenii, Laboulbenia subantarctica and Laboulbenia loxomeri) and five new records for the subantarctic (Cucujomyces phycophilus, Diphymyces penicillifer, Laboulbenia sp. 1, Rhachomyces sp. 1 and Teratomyces sp. 1) are reported, increasing the known number of taxa tenfold. An expanded geographic range for Rhachomyces kenodactyli is reported. A relatively high percentage (12%) of known beetle species in the subantarctic serve as hosts for Laboulbeniales. This host utilization rate is higher than that in tropical and north temperate regions. The high proportion of intertidal coleopteran taxa in the subantarctic fauna probably accounts for the greater number of host species utilized. Fungi on intertidal beetles (Omaliinae [Staphylinidae], Oopterus [Carabidae] and Kenodactylus audouini [Carabidae]) are known from many host individuals and collections, while those on terrestrial species are known from few, and in some cases, a single collection or host. The sporadic occurrence of some species encountered increases the likelihood that a few species of Laboulbeniales on Coleoptera probably remain undiscovered in the region.
We thank M. Bullians and E. Edwards for field assistance on the islands and the crew and skipper of Breaksea Girl for support and transport. We also would like to thank K. Challis (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) for assistance with the Latin diagnoses. G. Hall (Landcare Research) and B. Mc-Master (SUNY CESF) provided curatorial support. M. Hughes is grateful to both A. Weir and C.S. Liu for advice with the illustrations. Travel for fieldwork in New Zealand was made possible by U.S. National Science Foundation grants DEB 9971695 and DEB 9972083. Preparation of Laboulbeniales was financed by U.S. National Science Foundation Grant DEB 9972083. Landing and collecting permits were issued by the Department of Conservation, Southland Conservancy. Additional support was made by FRST (contract C09617).