Mycoflora of a trogloxenic cave cricket, Hadenoecus cumberlandicus (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), from two small caves in Northeastern Kentucky

Abstract

External and internal mycoflora of the cave cricket Hadenoecus cumberlandicus Hubbell were examined and consisted of eight deuteromycetes (Aspergillus niger, Beauveria sp., Colletotrichum acutatum, Geotrichum candidum, Penicillium sp., Pestalotia sp., Trichoderma sp., and Mycelia sterilia ), five zygomycetes (Absidia corymbifera, Cunninghamella sp., Mucor racemosus, Phycomyces sp., and rhizopus sp.), and one ascomycete (Thielavia terrestris). Most are soil saprophytes and typical in a cave setting. Internal isolates included Colletotrichum acutatum and Pestalotia sp., plant pathogens that were probably acquired during foraging. Noteworthy among external fungi was Beauveria sp., a genus of entomopathogens, revealing that fungi may have the potential to impact the cave ecosystem by reducing cave cricket populations. © 2004 Entomological Society of America.