New Species of Whitish Truffle, Tuber Lithocarpii Sp. Nov., Belonging to the Puberulum Clade, Discovered Under Lithocarpus Konishii in Taiwan

BackgroundDiversity of Tuber species in Taiwan is still poorly known, with only T. formosanum form Melanosporum clade, T. furfuraceum from Rufum clade and T. elevatireticulatum from Puberulum clade were recorded in recent 30 years. During our survey of hypogenous fungi in Taiwan, another whitish truffle was collected from roots of Lithocarpus konishii along a forest road in southern Taiwan in January 2018.ResultsThe whitish truffle is herein described as a new species Tuber lithocarpii, which is appeared to differ from most closely related taxon by its small ascomata size, reddish-brown gleba color, small and globose ascospores size with large pentagonal or irregular marbled reticulated ornamentation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. lithocarpii formed a monophyletic clade within Puberulum clade and placed sister to the Thai whitish truffle T.thailandicum with strong branching support.ConclusionsTuber lithocarpii, which is appeared to differ from the previous recorded species based on morphological and phylogenetic evidences. This is an important and encouraging discovery in Taiwan as to facilitate cognition of Asian truffles, the following development of biotechnological applications and truffle cultivation of native species.

Two new species of the genus Anisoderomorpha Arrow, 1925 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Languriinae)

The genus Anisoderomorpha Arrow, 1925 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Languriinae) is redescribed and two new species of Anisoderomorpha are described: A. tamdaoensis sp. nov. from Vietnam and A. malayana sp. nov. from Malaysia. The adults of A. tamdaoensis sp. nov. were found to be sexually dimorphic in external morphology, particularly in the shape of the head and mandibles: females have a large asymmetrical head and mandibles, whereas males have a symmetrical head with slightly asymmetrical mandibles. All three members of Anisoderomorpha and its related taxon, Celolanguria curvipes Arrow, 1925, are illustrated and the host plant of Anisoderomorpha is predicted based on the morphological similarity of the specified mouthparts to those of other genera.

A new species of Tyloperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Guangxi, China, with a redescription of the male of T. sinensis Yang & Yang, 1993

One new species of the genus Tyloperla Sivec & Stark, 1988, T. bilobata sp. nov., is described from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China. The new species is compared with related taxon. A redescription of the adult male of T. sinensis Yang & Yang, 1993 is also presented.

Fungal and bacterial diversity of Svalbard subglacial ice

The composition of fungal and bacterial communities in three polythermal glaciers and associated aquatic environments in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard was analysed using a combination of cultivation and amplicon sequencing. 109 fungal strains belonging to 30 mostly basidiomycetous species were isolated from glacial samples with counts up to 103 CFU/100 ml. Glaciozyma-related taxon and Phenoliferia psychrophenolica were the dominant species. Unexpectedly, amplicon sequencing uncovered sequences of Chytridiomycota in all samples and Rozellomycota in sea water, lake water, and tap water. Sequences of Malassezia restricta and of the extremely halotolerant Hortaea werneckii were also found in subglacial habitats for the first time. Overall, the fungal communities within a glacier and among glaciers were diverse and spatially heterogenous. Contrary to this, there was a large overlap between the bacterial communities of different glaciers, with Flavobacterium sp. being the most frequently isolated. In amplicon sequencing Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria sequences were the most abundant.

Phenotypes Associated with Pathogenicity: Their Expression in Arctic Fungal Isolates

Around 85% of the environments on Earth are permanently or seasonally colder than 5 °C. Among those, the poles constitute unique biomes, which harbor a broad variety of microbial life, including an abundance of fungi. Many fungi have an outstanding ability to withstand extreme conditions and play vital ecosystem roles of decomposers as well as obligate or facultative symbionts of many other organisms. Due to their dispersal capabilities, microorganisms from cryosphere samples can be distributed around the world. Such dispersal involves both species with undefined pathogenicity and potentially pathogenic strains. Here we describe the isolation of fungal species from pristine Arctic locations in Greenland and Svalbard and the testing of the expression of characteristics usually associated with pathogenic species, such as growth at 37 °C, hemolytic ability, and susceptibility to antifungal agents. A total of 320 fungal isolates were obtained, and 24 of the most abundant and representative species were further analyzed. Species known as emerging pathogens, like Aureobasidium melanogenum, Naganishia albida, and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, were able to grow at 37 °C, showed beta-hemolytic activity, and were intrinsically resistant to commonly used antifungals such as azoles and echinocandins. Antifungal resistance screening revealed a low susceptibility to voriconazole in N. albida and Penicillium spp. and to fluconazole in Glaciozyma watsonii and Glaciozyma-related taxon.

Monticalia speciosa (Senecioneae, Compositae), a noteworthy new species from Ecuador

A new species of Monticalia with minute, ciliate leaves, radiate capitula, and eight involucral bracts is described from the northern Andes of Ecuador. It is a striking shrub that has been oddly overlooked until now. It grows in the highlands of Papallacta, a very humid páramo characterized by harboring many lagoons. Photographs of living plants of the new species and a related taxon are provided.

Nomenclature and synonymic remarks on two species of Eupterotidae (Lepidoptera) described by Johan Christian Fabricius, and notes on related species

Types of two species of monkey moths (Eupterotidae, Lepidoptera) described by Johan Christian Fabricius were located and are here figured for the first time, and lectotypes are designated for both species. The lectotype of Bombyx hibisci Fabricius 1775 is a male from the Hunterian Museum (Glasgow). The lectotype of Bombyx orientalis Fabricius 1793, originally listed from “Dom. Lund” was found in the Zoological Museum—University of Copenhagen (as temporarily loan from the Zoological Museum of Kiel University) with an old incorrect identification label. Both species are members of the genus Eupterote Hübner, 1820 (so-called Brachytera-lineage). The following new synonymy can thus be established: Eupterote orientalis (Fabricius, 1793), comb. nov. (= Dreata geminata Walker 1855, syn. nov., syn. corr.; = Eupterote geminata var. hebes Grünberg 1914, syn. nov.; = Dreata anada Moore 1860, syn. nov., = Brachytera phalaenaria C. & R. Felder, 1874, syn. nov., = Eupterote auriflua Moore, 1884, syn. nov.). The type locality for orientalis originally given as “India orientali” is likely to be Sri Lanka. The related taxon, Eupterote gardneri Bryk, 1950, stat. nov. is established as valid species (bona species) with the a new synonym, Eupterote bifasciata Kishida, 1994, syn. nov. Eupterote primularis Moore, 1884 is considered a distinct species native to Central and Southern India.

Occurrence of Mormolyca cleistogama (Maxillarinae, Orchidaceae) in São Paulo state, Brazil

Mormolyca cleistogama has its occurrence unknown in São Paulo state, although widely distributed in South America. In this study, based in field collection, we confirmed the occurrence of M. cleistogama in São Paulo state, Brazil. Morphological descriptions, color images and comparison with the closely related taxon, M. rufescens, are presented.

A new species of Hirtella (Chrysobalanaceae), and redescription of a closely related taxon, from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Hirtella prancei, a new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, is described, illustrated and its morphological affinities with other species are discussed. The new species differs from the closely related H. hebeclada and H. santosii mainly by its indumentum on young branches and inflorescences, leaves that are usually larger with a bullate surface and greater number of secondary veins, and by its longer stipules and inflorescences. Hirtella prancei is only known from wet forests in southern Bahia State, Brazil. A more detailed morphological description and new data on distribution and habitat are also provided for H. santosii, which was based on an analysis of additional specimens.