A new association between Harpellales, insect-gut inhabiting fungi, and Chironomidae in Japan with an updated list of Harpellales documented from Chironomidae

Abstract

Harpellales (Zoopagomycotina) is a fungal order of which species inhabit the intestine of aquatic arthropods by attaching their thalli to the host’s gut lining. Harpellales consists of 270 species with over half found in Chironomidae larvae. The aim of this research is to document a species, S. pedifer, new to Japan with a chironomid host association and to list all Chironomidae-commensal species of Harpellales with host and country information.

Keywords

• Aquatic insect
• Diptera
• Gut fungi
• Symbiosis
• Trichomycetes