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Issue: Vol. 704 No. 3: 10 Jun. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-06-10
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.704.3.5
Page range: 271-282
Abstract views: 133
PDF downloaded: 8

Ophiocordyceps anocheti sp. nov. a new ant-parasitizing species from China

School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550025, P.R. China; Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China
School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550025, P.R. China; Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China; Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
novel taxon Hypocreales morphological phylogeny Fungi

Abstract

Ophiocordyceps is the largest genus in Ophiocordycipitaceae, known for its diverse host range and ecological adaptability, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Southwestern China is a hotspot for its species diversity. Ophiocordyceps fungi typically parasitize insects through specialized adaptations in their life cycle. In this study, a new species, Ophiocordyceps anocheti, a parasite of red ants (Anochetus sp., Ponerinae) is described. It is distinguished from other Ophiocordyceps species in having slender synnemata lacking a swollen head, stout phialides, and hyaline, smooth, one-celled conidia. Phylogenetic analysis based on six loci (SSU, LSU, ITS, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2) confirms Ophiocordyceps anocheti as a novel species within the genus.

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How to Cite

Xie, S.-Q., Yang, Y., Xiao, Y.-P., Lu, Y.-Z. & Nalumpang, S. (2025) Ophiocordyceps anocheti sp. nov. a new ant-parasitizing species from China. Phytotaxa 704 (3): 271–282. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.704.3.5