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Notes on the Genera Ectomyces and Termitaria, Fungi Parasitic on Termites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

P. Tate
Affiliation:
(From the Molteno Institute for Research in Parasitology, University of Cambridge.)

Extract

Recently (1927) I described a peculiar fungus parasitic on the fore-legs of a termite under the name Ectomyces calotermi n.g., n.sp. Unfortunately, I at the time overlooked a paper by Thaxter (1920), in which, among other fungus parasites of insects, he described the genus Termitaria which he founded for two species of a fungus parasitic on termites, and which appears to be the same as Ectomyces. I considered Ectomyces to be an Ascomycete; but Thaxter, who studied living material at different stages, says that the apothecial-like fructification arises by vertical proliferation from a primary pseudo-cellular layer of much branched and closely septate hyphae, some cells of which become modified and assume a chlamydospore-like appearance; and that the spores are successively abstricted as endo-conidia, and, in one species, are expelled through a terminal pore. Consequently, he considers it to be a Fungus Imperfectus of uncertain affinities, and apparently occupying an isolated position in the group Leptostromaceae.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1928

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References

Feytaud, J. and Dieuzeide, R. (1927). Sur un champignon parasite du Reticulitermes lucifugus Rossi. C.R. Acad. Sci. 185, 671672.Google Scholar
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Tate, P. (1927). On Ectomyces calotermi n.g., n.sp., an Ascomyeete Parasitic on Calotermes samoanus Holmgren (Isoptera, Protermitidae). Parasitology, 19, 5460.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thaxter, R. (1920). Second Note on Certain Peculiar Fungus-Parasites of Living Insects Bot. Gaz. 69, 127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar