New Parasitic Fungi Found on Wasps Offer Pest‑Control Insights

In a recent issue of MycoKeys (137:337–359), Ze-Mei Chen and colleagues described two new species of the entomopathogenic genus Ophiocordyceps—Ophiocordyceps yuanyangensis and Ophiocordyceps gotrae—along with a first record of O. cylindrospora. The specimens were collected in Yunnan Province, China, where they parasitized hymenopteran hosts such as wasps and bees ¹.net].

The authors—Chen, He-Fa Liao, Fang-Wei Lou, Rui Hu, Jin-Long Jia, Wen-Bo Zeng, Zhu-Liang Yang, Ai-Li Zhang, and Yuan-Bing Wang—used morphological observation and multi-gene phylogenetic analysis to delineate these taxa. They employed concatenated datasets comprising nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2 genes to construct a robust phylogeny placing the new species within the Hymenostilbe clade of the family Ophiocordycipitaceae ¹.net].

Morphologically, O. gotrae is distinguished by its smaller fertile head and shorter asci compared to close relatives, while O. yuanyangensis shows smaller fertile parts and asci but larger perithecia and part‑spores. These subtle differences underscore how delicate morphological traits can be when distinguishing closely related entomopathogenic fungi.

To date, 24 species in the Hymenostilbe clade have been reported parasitizing Hymenoptera; the addition of two more species expands that count to 26 and highlights the rich diversity yet undiscovered among insect‑parasitic fungi in Yunnan’s diverse ecosystems ¹.net].

The discovery has practical implications beyond taxonomy. Entomopathogenic fungi like Ophiocordyceps are being explored as biological agents for pest control because they specifically target wasp pests without harming beneficial insects or other non-target organisms. However, experts caution that deploying such biotechnological solutions requires careful assessment of potential unintended ecological consequences, especially given the complex interactions between pathogens and their insect hosts ¹.net].

In sum, Chen et al.’s work not only adds two new species to the Ophiocordyces genus but also opens a window into possible future applications of entomopathogens in agriculture, while reinforcing the need for comprehensive taxonomic frameworks to guide responsible use of these natural allies.