Laboulbenia assingii W.Rossi & M.Leonardi, 2020

Laboulbenia assingii W.Rossi & M.Leonardi , sp. nov.

( Fig. 1A View FIG )

Thallus compact, with very short receptacle and cell V not reaching cell III; inner appendage minute, bearing a single, terminal antheridium; outer appendage unbranched and unusually stout, its basal cell as broad as cell III.

ETYMOLOGY. — Named after the German entomologist Volker Assing, distinguished student of the Staphylinidae and collector of the new species.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — China. S Gansu, S Longnan, Min Shan , 1500 m, 33°05’24”N, 104°45’13”E, on the dorsal side of the abdomen of Mimogonus , sp. ( Coleoptera , Staphylinidae , Osoriinae), 06.VIII.2012, leg. V. Assing (holo-, FI [FI WR3766 ]). GoogleMaps

MYCOBANK. — MB 831065.

DESCRIPTION

Thallus short and compact, colored dirty yellow with somewhat darker perithecium. Receptacle very short, broadly triangular, with cell I slightly longer than maximum width and cell II about as long, but much broader than the former, separated from cell III by a short, horizontal septum and from cell VI by a much longer, oblique and sometimes concave septum. Cell III quadrangular, slightly longer than broad. Cell IV similar to cell III, with a small and triangular cell V in its upper, inner angle. Insertion cell dark brown, relatively thin. Outer appendage simple and unusually stout, its basal cell as broad as cell III. Inner appendage consisting of a very small basal cell bearing a single flask-shaped antheridium. Perithecium ovoid, almost one half free from the receptacle, with a short, broad and blackened tip ending in an obliquely truncate and almost flattened apex distinctly directed outwards. Length from foot to perithecial tip 123-150 µm; perithecium 76-81 × 39-41 µm.

REMARKS

The very stocky habitus paired with the stout outer appendage makes this new species distinguishable at first sight. Laboulbenia assingii , sp. nov., is likely allied to L. kenyensis W.Rossi & Santam. parasitic on Mimogonus rossii Bordoni from Kenya, which also has a simple outer appendage and a single antheridium, but the latter species has a more slender appendage, elongate perithecium, much longer basal and suprabasal cells forming a geniculate receptacle, as well as other minor differences ( Rossi & Santamaría 2000).