Associated with Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae): World Review and Synthesis of Their Ecology and Taxonomy
Fungal Diversity Harpellales (Zygomycota: Trichomycetes) associated with black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae): world review and synthesis of their ecology and taxonomy Mark P. Nelder1,3*, Charles E. Beard1, Peter H. Adler1, Sam-Kyu Kim1, 2 and John W. McCreadie 1114 Long Hall, Department of Entomology, Soils, and Plant Sciences, Box 340315, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0315, USA 2124 Life Sciences Building, 307 University Blvd., Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002, USA Nelder, M.P., Beard, C.E., Adler, P.H., Kim, S.K. and McCreadie, J.W. (2006). Harpellales (Zygomycota: Trichomycetes) associated with black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae): world review and synthesis of their ecology and taxonomy. Fungal Diversity 22: 121-169. The Harpellales are obligate, symbiotic trichomycete fungi that colonize the digestive tracts of arthropods, including black flies (simuliids). Worldwide, black flies are hosts for 9 genera and 36 species of Harpellales. Black flies are ideal organisms for the study of trichomycete ecology because they are taxonomically well known, allowing precise identifications of trichomycete hosts. Trichomycete fungi are among the few symbiotes known to encompass the entire spectrum of symbiotic relationships: commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism. To provide an enhanced framework for investigating trichomycete-host symbioses, we review and synthesize the biology of Harpellales colonizing black flies, suggest areas requiring further study, and present a key to the species of Harpellales that colonize black flies worldwide. Key words: aquatic insects, black flies, fungi, Harpella, identification key, Nematocera, Pennella, Smittium, streams, symbiosis Introduction The Harpellales are obligate, fungal associates of the guts of isopods (Isopoda) and larval insects, including beetles (Coleoptera), true flies (Diptera), mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Plecoptera), and caddisflies (Trichoptera) (Misra and Lichtwardt, 2000; Lichtwardt et al., 2003).
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