New species of Rhachomyces from Ecuador, one of which is dimorphic

Abstract

Six new species of Rhachomyces from Ecuador are described and illustrated. These are R. dimorphus, parasitic on Diploharpus rossii (Carabidae, Perigoninae); R. elsae, parasitic on Adelopsis carolinae (Cholevidae, Ptomaphaginae); R. falcatus, parasitic on Palaminus sp. (Staphylinidae, Paederinae); R. moreti, parasitic on Trechisibus calathiformis (Carabidae, Trechinae); R. otongaensis, parasitic on Perigona sp. (Carabidae, Perigoninae); and R. venustus, parasitic on Megalopinus robustus (Staphylinidae, Megalopsidiinae). Rhachomyces dimorphus is peculiar, displaying two different growth forms, one of which is found on the left foreleg of male host insects, the other on the inferior, posterior margin of the prothorax of females. Each of the other new species also displays one or more unusual features.

• Ascomycota
• Laboulbeniales
• parasitism
• polymorphism
• position specificity
• sex of host specificity
• site specificity
• taxonomy

The authors thank the entomologists who kindly identified the host insects: P. Moret, France (Carabidae); A. Newton, USA. (Staphylinidae, Paederinae); V. Puthz, Germany (Staphylinidae Megalopsidiinae); J.M. Salgado, Spain (Cholevidae). The authors also are indebted to Álvaro Barragán for his invaluable help during the field work, Robert Davidson for useful suggestions and Luigi Cajani for checking the Latin diagnoses. This research was financially supported by the Ferdinando Peretti Foundation.