Two new species of Hirsutella (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Sordariomycetes) that are parasitic on lepidopteran insects from China

Hirsutella are globally distributed entomopathogenic fungi that offer important economic applications in biological control and biomedicine. Hirsutella was suppressed in favour of Ophiocordyceps affected by the ending of dual nomenclature for pleomorphic fungi in 2011. Currently, Hirsutella has been resurrected as a genus under Ophiocordycipitaceae. In this study, we introduce two new species of Hirsutella, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Hirsutellaflava and H.kuankuoshuiensis are pathogenic on different species of larval Lepidoptera in China. Hirsutellaflava primarily differs from related species by its awl-shaped base; long and narrow neck, 24–40.8 × 2.2–2.5 μm; long and narrow cymbiform or fusoid conidia, 6.5–10 × 2.1–4.3 μm. Hirsutellakuankuoshuiensis has two types of phialides and distinctive 9.9–12.6 × 2.7–4.5 μm, clavate or botuliform conidia. The distinctions amongst the new species and phylogenetic relationships with other Hirsutella species are discussed.