Ophiocordyceps pseudolloydii (H.C. Evans & Samson) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora 2007., Index Fungorum number: IF 504324
Basionym: Cordyceps pseudolloydii H.C. Evans & Samson, Trans. Br. mycol. Soc. 82(1): 133 (1984)
Parasitism in adult ant (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae), thallus, white to yellow, covered with white dense mycelium, attached to head and forming conspicuous, particularly at site attached to substratum, greyish yellow to light yellow.
Thallus within host white, composed of intercalary hyphal bodies, covered with yellowish mycelium. Stromata mostly single, stipitate, arising from dorsal neck region of the ant, capitate. Stipe 2–4 mm long, 0.5–1.2 mm wide, clavate, with a fertile apex, becoming golden yellow to brownish yellow. Fertile head 1–2 mm wide, 0.5–2 mm diam, hemispherical or oblate globoid, sometimes slightly flattened, light orange to yellow, upper surface roughened, lateral surface, ridged and furrowed. Ascomata 374–455 × 125–182 μm ( x̅ = 414 × 154 μm, n = 30), immersered, flask-shaped, thick-walled, ostiole prominent. Peridium 16–28 mm wide. Asci 251–314 × 7–10 μm ( x̅ = 283 × 8.7 μm, n = 60), 8-spored, hyaline, narrow cylindrical, with a thickened apex. Apical cap 7.3–9.7 μm ( x̅ = 8.5 μm, n = 60) thick. Ascospores filiform, as long as asci, hyaline, multiseptate into secondary ascospores. Secondary ascospores 4.5–6.3 × 1–2.5 μm ( x̅ = 5.4 × 1.8 μm, n = 150), cylindrical, hyaline, smooth.
Culture characters: growing on PDA, reaching 7 cm diam., after 3 weeks at 20–25 °C, with whitened, dense, aerial mycelium on the surface, irregular at the edge, reverse dark brown to white at the edge, with folded ridge in the central.
Material examined: THAILAND, Chiang Rai. On dead ant (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae), 10 February 2015,
Yuan-Pin Xiao, (MFLU 16–2914 (reference specimen designated here), MFLU 16–2915, MFLU 16–2916, MFLU
16–2917); ibid; living culture, MFLUCC 15–0689, MFLUCC 15–0690.
