Metarhizium dendrolimatilis, a novel Metarhizium species parasitic on Dendrolimus sp. larvae

Abstract

A novel species of the genus Meatrhizium, Metarhizium dendrolimatilis, parasitic on Dendrolimus sp. larvae, collected in Huaxi, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China, is described based on morphological and phylogenetic evidences. This species differs morphologically from other species in the genus by its determinate synnemata, ellipsoidal conidia, and globose phialides. The phylogenetic analyses based on four loci (EF1a, RPB1, RPB2 and TUB), strongly support the novel species designation of this fungus within the Metarhizium genus, Metarhizium dendrolimatilis sp. nov.