A new Ophiostoma species associated with bark beetles infesting Norway spruce

Abstract

During a survey of fungi associated with bark beetles in Germany, an undescribed species of Ophiostoma was isolated that differs from the other species of the genus by having pigmented, aseptate, convergent ostiolar hyphae, cucullate, sheathed ascospores, and a Hyalorhinocladiella anamorph. The species is described as Ophiostoma neglectum Kirschner & Oberwinkler. It is rarely associated with primary bark beetles but often associated with secondary bark beetles mainly infesting Norway spruce.Key words: Ophiostoma neglectum, Hyalorhinocladiella, secondary bark beetles, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, conidial development.