Synandromyces makranczyi W. Rossi & M. Leonardi, sp. nov.

Index Fungorum number: IF 557386; MycoBank number: MB 557386; Facesoffungi number: FoF 07844; Fig. 1

Etymology – Named after the Hungarian entomologist György Makranczy, who provided the material utilized for the description of the new species.

Holotype – FI WR3154

Receptacle, appendage and antheridia dark brown; stalk cell of perithecium and basal cells of the same light yellow; perithecium brownish red. Cell I elongate, distinctly tapering to the foot. The arrangement of cell II and III is hidden by the dark tinge: together with cell I they form a club-shaped structure. Antheridiiferous axis short, consisting of five superposed and gradually smaller cells: the lower two sterile, the others bearing on the inner side single antheridia with falcate and gradually shorter efferent necks, the apexes of which reach the same height. Stalk cell of the perithecium about as long as the free appendage, gradually broader from below upwards. Perithecial basal cells large and unequal: the lower two are longer then broad, distinctly longer than the upper, which bulge externally. Perithecial venter symmetrically inflated, passing without abrupt transition to the tapering tip and rounded apex. Total length from foot to perithecial apex 305–370 µm; length from foot to apex of free appendage 120–140 µm; perithecium 50–55×135–175 µm; ascospores about 32 µm.

Material examined – PERU, Cuzco Dept., Pillahuata, Manu rd. km 128, leaf litter, 22.IX.1982, L.E. Watrous & G. Mazurek, on the upper side of the abdomen of a paratype of Parosus major Makranczy (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Oxytelinae) (FI WR3154, holotype).

Notes – Synandromyces makranczyi is the first species in the genus found occurring on Staphylinidae. It shares with S. platydemae, described from Cameroon on Platydema tomentosum (Tenebrionidae), by the dark tinge of receptacle, appendage and antheridia and the peculiar shape and arrangement of the latter (Fig. 1). However, S. platydemae differs from the new species by a shorter appendage, a much smaller stalk cell of the perithecium, and the very pale colour of the latter, which also bears a much shorter and less tapering tip (Thaxter 1931).

Figure 1 – Synandromyces makranczyi (FI WR3154, holotype). a, b Thalli from the type slide (BF). c Thallus from the type slide (DIC). Scale bars: a–c=100 µm