Fungal Symbionts (Harpellales) in Norwegian Aquatic Insect Larvae

Collections of aquatic insect larvae in Norway, over a 40 d period in May and Aug 2002, resulted in finding more than 25 species and one new genus of Harpellales (Trichomycetes). Nine new fungal symbionts are described and named: Ephemerellomyces aquilonius (a new monotypic genus), Glotzia stenospora and Legeriosimilis europaeus in mayfly nymphs (Ephemeroptera); Genistelloides amplispora and G. communis in stonefly nymphs (Plecoptera); and Smittium biforme, Sm. precipitiorum, Stachylina acutibasilaris and St. lentica in midge larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae). Two possibly new species of Smittium in Chironomidae larvae are described but not formally named. New hosts and biogeographical distributions are recorded for 14 previously described species, including the rare occurrence of Smittium simulii in mosquito larvae

Trichomycetes in Argentinean Aquatic Insect Larvae

Investigations of larval aquatic Diptera (Chironomidae, Simuliidae, Culicidae), Coleoptera (Scirtidae), and Plecoptera (Gripopterygidae, Notonemouridae) in Buenos Aires Province and three Provinces in Patagonia (Rio Negro, Chubut, Neuquen) have revealed 19 species of gut fungi (Zygomycota: Trichomycetes). Three of the species represent new monotypic genera: Coleopteromyces amnicus, Plecopteromyces patagoniensis, and Stachylinoides arctata. This is the first report of a Harpellales living in a Coleoptera larva. New species were Carouxella coemeteriensis, Paramoebidium digitoideum, Smittium esteparum, S. tronadorium, and Stachylina platensis. In addition, what may be new species of Smittium and Stachylina are described but not named. Two of the species, Harpella meridianalis and Smittium cylindrosporum, were previously know only from southern Chile. The other six previously described species found in Argentina have a wider geographic distribution, including Smittium morbosum which is pathogenic to mosquito larvae. A key to Argentinean species of Trichomycetes and comments on their biogeography are provided

Symbiotic Harpellales (Trichomycetes) in Tasmanian aquatic insects

Surveys for symbiotic fungi in the guts of aquatic insect larvae (Trichomycetes: Harpellales) in Tasmania, Australia, resulted in the discovery of four new species: two in Gripopterygidae (Plecoptera) nymphs, Plecopteromyces leptoperlarum and P. trinotoperlarum, and two associated with Diptera larvae, Smittium magnosporum in Thaumaleidae and Stachylina dolichospora in Chironomidae. Previously described species of Harpellales from other localities are reported and new host records summarized. A key to all Tasmanian species of Harpellales is provided

Trichomycetes (Zygomycota) in the Digestive Tract of Arthropods in Amazonas, Brazil

Eight species of Harpellales and three species of Eccrinales (Zygomycota: Trichomycetes) were found associated with the digestive tract of arthropods from terrestrial and aquatic environments in the central Amazon region of Brazil. New species of Harpellales include: Harpella amazonica, Smittium brasiliense, Genistellospora tropicalis in Simuliidae larvae and Stachylina paucispora in Chironomidae larvae. Axenic cultures of S. brasiliense were obtained. Probable new species of Enterobryus (Eccrinales), Harpella, and Stachylina (Harpellales) are described but not named. Also reported are the previously known species of Eccrinales, Passalomyces compressus and Leidyomyces attenuatus in adult Coleoptera (Passalidae), and Smittium culisetae and Smittium aciculare (Harpellales) in Culicidae and Simuliidae larvae, respectively. Comments on the distribution of some of these fungi and their hosts in the Neotropics are provided

Fungos trichomycetes (Zygomicota) associados com larvas de mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) em criadouros naturais e artificiais em Manaus, AM

Fungal species of the class Trichomycete fungi (Zygomycota) are associated with the digestive tracts of Arthropoda. The relationships between these fungi and their hosts are still little understood: they may be commensal, beneficial or deleterious. Knowledge of the community structure of parasites/ pathogens and of the habitats of each species of Culicidae larvae can be important in studies that intend to use combined approaches to population control. Larvae of Culicidae and their associated trichomycete fungi were collected in Manaus County, AM, Brazil; sampling habitats included plants (natural habitat) and anthropic containers (artificial habitats). The total of 1,518 larvae were collected, 913 of which were in natural habitats and 605 were in artificial habitats, distributed in 12 species of seven genera. The total of 661 individuals (4th instar) were dissected to verify the presence of trichomycete fungi in the mid and hindgut. Infection of trichomycete fungi in the hindgut was observed in 15% of Culex urichii Coquillett, 13% of Culex (Culex) sp1, 9% of Limatus spp., 49% of Aedes aegypti Linnaeus and 1% of Ochlerotatus argyrothorax Bonne-Wepster & Bonne. Only in Ae. aegypti were trichomycete fungi observed in the peritrophic matrix, in the midgut; however, this fact is probably, a result of abnormal development of the fungi

Trichomycete fungi living in the guts of Costa Rican phytotelm larvae and other lentic dipterans

Species of Harpellales (Trichomycetes: Zygomycotina) were found living in the guts of Chironomidae. Culicidae and Ceratopogonidae larvae inhabiting reservoirs of water retained by the leaves of epiphytic bromeliads and a few other plants, including pineapple and banana, as well as from a swamp. Periodic collections in Costa Rica between 1984 and 1991 inc1uded a low wet forest (La Selva Biological Station), a c10ud forest (Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve), and a zone of premontane rain forest (Las Cruces Bíological Station). A new trichomycete, Smittium phytOlelmalum, that inhabits bloodworms (Chironomidae) was found primarily but not exclusívely in bromeliads, and several axenic cultures of the fungus were obtained. A second, rarer, new species from a bromeliad bloodworm, S. fascicuJatum, is also described. as is the new specíes Stachylina paludosa from swamp bl00dworms. Two possibly new but unnamed speeies of Smittium are deseribed from lentie dípteran ¡arvae. Mosquito, midge and ceratopogonid larvae were liosts to a geographieally widespread Harpellales, Smittium culisetlU!. Bracts of Heliconia inflorescences, though often populated by mosquito larvae and other inseets, contained no larvae with gut fungi. Water in Heliconia braets averaged 2.36 pH units above that in bromeliads (average pH 5.02). It was dernonstrated in the laboratory that Heliconia-inhabiting mosquito larvae maintained in their native water could be artificially infested with axenic cultures of S. culisetae. The apparent lack of natural fungal infestation of mosquito larvae in heliconias may be due 10 the ephemeral nature of the plants' water-holding braets and extrinsic factors such as recruitment of fungal inoculum.Se encontró varias especies de hongos Harpellales (Trichomycetes: Zygomycotina) en los tubos digestivos de insectos larvales (Chronomidae, Culicídae y Ceratopogonidae) de tanques de agua en bromelias epífitas y algunas otras plantas (como piña y banano), y en un pantano. Se hicieron recolecciones periódicas en Costa Rica entre 1984 y 1991 en bosque pluvial de bajura (La Selva), nuboso (Monteverde) y pluvial premontano (Jardín de Las Cruces). Se halló un nuevo tricomiceto, Smitt ium phytot elmatum, que habita en quironómidos y se encontró básicamente en bromelias, obteniéndose varios c ultivos axénicos. Una segunda especie, menos común, S . fasc i c u latum (de un quironómido bromelícola) y otra bautizada como Stachylina paludosa (de quironómidos de pantano), se describen como nuevas para la ciencia. Se describe también, sin darles nombre, dos posibles especies nuevas de Smittium de quironómidos de pantano. Larvas d e mosquito (zancudo), mid ges y ceratopogónidos sirven de hospederos al Smittium culisetae (Harpellales), de amplia distribución geográfica. Aunque las brácteas de inflorescencias de Heliconia suelen tener larvas de mosquito y otros insectos, ninguna tenía hongos en el tubo digestivo. El agua en estas brácteas es de un pH promedio 2.36 unidades mayor que en las bromelias. En laboratorio se comprobó la posibilidad (u sando el agua original) de infestar artificialmente las larvas con cultivos axénicos de S. culisitae. La ausencia aparente de estos hongos en las larvas de mosquito de las heliconias podría deberse tanto a la corta vida de estos depósitos de agua como a factores extrínsecos (e.g. dificultad de llegada para el inóculo fúngico)

Costa Rican gut fungi (Trichomycetes) infecting lotic insect larvae

Trichomycetes infecting freshwater Ephemeroptera and Díptera (Siínuliidae, Chironomidae) in various life zones oC Cósta Rica were studied. Insect populations in 36 streams were sampled, a few repeatedly, at four different . perlods of time over seven years. Eleven new species of Harpellales are reported, plus six species known to occur also in n ontropical parts oí the world. Included are new species of Harpella and Pennella, a new monotypic genus (Graminelloides), and four new species of the previously monotypic genera Spartiella and Genistellospora. Seven new Smittiúm species, including three that are not named at this time, were cultured axenically. A new Amoebidium (Amoebidiales) was found in a stream polluted with organic matter. In the same polluted stream more species of dipteran larvae and a greater number of gut fungi were present than in stretclies of unpolluted water upstream. The overall diversity of Harpellales and their aquatic insect hosts in most Costa Rican streams appeared to be lower than what the author has found in many lotic habitats in more northem and southem regions of the world, and thus this order of fungi may be an exception to the 'latitudinal species diversity gradient' concept as it applies to many other tropical organisms. A key to all 23 Tric homycetes now known to be present in Costa Rica is providedTrichomycetes infecting freshwater Ephemeroptera and Díptera (Siínuliidae, Chironomidae) in various life zones oC Cósta Rica were studied. Insect populations in 36 streams were sampled, a few repeatedly, at four different . perlods of time over seven years. Eleven new species of Harpellales are reported, plus six species known to occur also in n ontropical parts oí the world. Included are new species of Harpella and Pennella, a new monotypic genus (Graminelloides), and four new species of the previously monotypic genera Spartiella and Genistellospora. Seven new Smittiúm species, including three that are not named at this time, were cultured axenically. A new Amoebidium (Amoebidiales) was found in a stream polluted with organic matter. In the same polluted stream more species of dipteran larvae and a greater number of gut fungi were present than in stretclies of unpolluted water upstream. The overall diversity of Harpellales and their aquatic insect hosts in most Costa Rican streams appeared to be lower than what the author has found in many lotic habitats in more northem and southem regions of the world, and thus this order of fungi may be an exception to the 'latitudinal species diversity gradient' concept as it applies to many other tropical organisms. A key to all 23 Tric homycetes now k n o w n to be present in Costa R i c a is provide