First records of fungi pathogenic on spiders for the Republic of Serbia

Abstract

During an investigation into parasitic fungi on arthropods in the mixed forests of Mt. Fruška Gora, Republic of Serbia, two pathogenic species were found: Cordyceps thaxteri Mains (anamorph: Cordyceps thaxteri Mains (Anamorph: Akanthomyces aranearum (Petch) Mains) and Torrubiella arachnophila (J.R. Johnst.) Mains (Anamorph: Gibellula leiopus (Vuill. ex Maubl.) Mains (Hypocreales, Cordycipitaceae). Both specimens were found in the anamorphic (asexual) stage. Previously, there have been no investigations of this group of fungi in this region, thus these are the first records of pathogenic fungi for both Mt. Fruška Gora and the entire territory of the Republic of Serbia. Collected specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of the National Park Fruška Gora, Republic of Serbia.

Keywords

• Akanthomyces
• Araneae
• Cordyceps
• Gibellula
• pathogenic fungi
• Torrubiella