Trichomycetes from China and the description of three new Smittium species

Abstract

Trichomycetes were recovered from the guts of aquatic insect larvae collected from a stream in the Qinling Mountains in western China. These collections included Smittium hecatei, known only from Spain, as well as Smittium simulii and Stachylina penetralis, which appear to be more widely distributed. Caudomyces japonicus, previously recorded only from Japan, also is reported from crane fly larvae (Antocha sp.) from China. We describe three new species, Smittium chinliense from a tipulid host, as well as Smittium naiadis and Smittium nodifixum, both from chironomid larvae. A probable new species of Gauthieromyces was collected in mayfly nymphs and is illustrated but not described here.

• aquatic insects
• Caudomyces
• Gauthieromyces
• gut fungi
• Harpellales

We thank Dr Zhezhi Wang, dean of the College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU), for financing the field trip to the Qinling Mountains, and both SNNU and Saint Mary’s University for financing travel for DBS. We thank Dr Zhongmin Dong, Biology Department, Saint Mary’s University, for arranging the visit (by DBS) to China and for aiding the communication that helped to produce this manuscript. Mr Yi Bai and Ms Deng Sufang ably assisted us in the field. Carolyn Bird provided the Latin diagnosis. We also thank Dr R.W. Lichtwardt and Dr M.M. White for their help and discussions surrounding Smittium species and for editorial suggestions on the paper.