Fungal parasites of rotifers: Harposporium

Abstract

Two new species, Harposporium angularis and Harposporium cylindrosporum, are described as parasitic on a species of bdelloid rotifer belonging to the genus Adineta. In H. angularis the conidia are long, slender, bent at right angles and taper to an acutely pointed slightly curved apex. Infection is initiated by conidia lodging and germinating in the gullet of the host between the mouth and the mastax. In H. cylindrosporum the conidia are also ingested but apparently pass through the mastax to initiate infection in the lower gut.