Morphological and molecular analyses reveal two new species of Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from China

Abstract

Gibellula penicillioidessp. nov. and G. longisporasp. nov., two new species parasitising spiders collected in China, are illustrated and described, based on morphological features and multiloci phylogenetic analysis. The G. penicillioidessp. nov. group is sister to the G. scorpioides group, but form long penicilloid conidiophore producing enlarged fusiform conidia ((7–) 7.5–9 (–10) × 2.5–3.5 μm). G. longisporasp. nov. is sister to G. pigmentosinum, but has slender long conidia (5–7 × 1–2 μm); teleomorph and Granulomanus-synanamorphic conidiogenous cells are absent in these two species. Type specimens of G. penicillioidessp. nov. and G. longisporasp. nov. were deposited in the Anhui Agricultural University (RCEF). In addition, a key to all known species of Gibellula is illustrated.