[Fungi • 2026] Leptobacillium geminatum • A New Species of Leptobacillium and Additional Records of Simplicillium and Leptobacillium (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae) from Sabah, Malaysia

Leptobacillium geminatum

in Shahbaz, De Wint, Rong, Wei, Koid, Fayle, Tan, Abdullah, Palaniveloo et Seelan, 2026.

DOI: doi.org/10.1002/nzb2.70107 

Abstract

Simplicillium and Leptobacillium are entomopathogenic fungal genera frequently associated with arthropods in tropical ecosystems and considered promising candidates for biological pest control. However, the diversity of these genera in tropical regions, particularly in Malaysia, has not been systematically investigated in the context of their taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships. This study aimed to investigate the taxonomic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Simplicillium and Leptobacillium using integrated morphological and molecular analyses. During a survey of entomopathogenic fungi conducted in Malaysia from 2022–2023, parasitized insects were collected, including spiders and wasps infected by entomopathogenic fungi. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using concatenated datasets of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) gene to construct phylogenetic trees. The study identified one novel species, Leptobacillium geminatum sp. nov., isolated from a spider. In addition, five species are reported here as new records for Malaysia: S. formicae, L. leptobactrum. symbioticum, and L. coffeanum isolated from spiders and S. puwenense, isolated from a wasp. Morphological characteristics together with molecular phylogenetic evidence supported the taxonomic placement of these taxa. These findings represent the first comprehensive documentation of Simplicillium and Leptobacillium species from Malaysia, significantly expanding the known diversity and geographical distribution of these entomopathogenic fungi in Southeast Asia.

Keywords: concatenation, fungal diversity, morphology, Northern Borneo, taxonomy

 Leptobacillium geminatum sp. nov.

Muhammad Shahbaz, Frederik C. De Wint, Jeremiah Sia Yiao Rong, Yap Jing Wei, Qian-Qun Koid, Tom Fayle, Yee Shin Tan, Sumaiyah Abdullah, Kishneth Palaniveloo, Jaya Seelan Sathiya Seelan. 2026. A New Species of Leptobacillium and Additional Records of Simplicillium and Leptobacillium from Sabah, Malaysia. New Zealand Journal of Botany. 64(2); DOI: doi.org/10.1002/nzb2.70107 [02 June 2026] 

[Fungi • 2026] Gibellula mineira • The Silent Hunters of Spiders: Discovering A New Gibellula (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae) Fungus in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Iguarima censoria (Anyphaenidae) spiders

unparasitized and parasitized by Gibellula mineira sp. nov.

Santos, Mendes-Pereira, Ribeiro & Kloss. 2026 

 DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101748

 

Abstract

In tropical forests, there is a high diversity of parasites that use arthropods as resource, particularly arachnids. One of the most frequent groups of spiders’ parasites in tropical forests are fungi of the genus Gibellula, for which a considerable knowledge gap remains in these environments. In this study, we present the description of a new species that infects spiders of the species Iguarima censoria (Anyphaenidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Gibellula mineira sp. nov. We also described the prevalence of the new fungal species in the host spider population and evaluated whether the host size influences their probability of parasitism. Morphological and molecular analyses revealed that G. mineira represents a distinct species forming a clade with 100% support of bootstrap and showing a close phylogenetic relationship with Gibellula aurea. The characteristics that distinguish it from other species of the genus include light brown hyphae, white and slightly larger conidiophores, and thinner phialides. We observed a high prevalence of parasitism in this interaction, reaching 25% of the observed I. censoria population. Furthermore, we noted that the cadavers of parasitized spiders are exclusively attached to the underside of leaves, following the typical pattern observed for Gibellula species. Parasitism is more frequent in smaller I. censoria individuals, which is probably associated with thinner cuticles or higher foraging activity in smaller individuals. We suggested that G. mineira is an important natural enemy of I. censoria, directly influencing the population dynamics of this spider and expanding our knowledge of the ecology and biodiversity of araneopathogenic fungi.

 

Keywords: Hypocreales, Araneae, Behavioral manipulation, Parasitism, Araneopathogenic fungi

 Iguarima censoria (Anyphaenidae) spiders unparasitized and parasitized by Gibellula mineira sp. nov.
(A) Unparasitized individual foraging in vegetation; (B) Silk retreat built by unparasitized spiders on the leaf lamina;
(C) Adult I. censoria individual infected by G. mineira at an early stage of fungal development; (D) G. mineira colony at mature stage of development;
(E) I. censoria individual showing newly formed synnemata (white); (F) I. censoria individual showing mature synnemata (light brown);
(G) Detail of a white synnema, at the beginning of development, with conidiophores showing chains of conidia; (H) Developed light brown synnema, with dense, white conidiophores.

Scale bars: E, G, H = 1 mm.  

Gibellula mineira sp. nov. 

Aline dos Santos, Thairine Mendes-Pereira, Camila de Fátima Ferreira Ribeiro and Thiago Gechel Kloss. 2026. The Silent Hunters of Spiders: Discovering A New Gibellula (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae) Fungus in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Fungal Biology. 130(3); 101748. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101748

[Funga • 2025] Gibellula attenboroughii (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) •The araneopathogenic genus Gibellula in the British Isles, including A New Zombie Species on Orb-weaving Cave Spiders (Tetragnathidae: Metainae)

 

Gibellula attenboroughii, habitat and paratype, on Meta menardi.
 

Evans, Fogg, Buddie, Yeap, & Araújo, 2025 

 DOI: doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.15.07 

 

Abstract  

The genus Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) comprises species pathogenic on and specific to spider hosts. Here, we report on the occurrence of a novel species infecting cave-dwelling, orb-weaving spiders of the sub-family Metainae (Tetragnathidae) in the British Isles. The new species, Gibellula attenboroughii is described and illustrated and its ecology is discussed; leading to the conclusion that infected spiders exhibit behavioural changes similar to those reported for zombie ants. The hidden diversity of the genus Gibellula in the British Isles is further highlighted based on fungarium records and literature searches. Two spider pathogens, previously assigned to the genus Torrubiella, are now transferred to the genus Gibellula, based on their Granulomanus synasexual morphs, in accordance with the one fungus-one name initiative: Gibellula albolanata comb. nov. and G. aranicida comb. nov.

Keywords: Gibellula attenboroughii; entomopathogenic fungi; host manipulation; new taxa; systematics

 

Gibellula attenboroughii, habitat and paratype IMI 507598, on Meta menardi.
A. Whitefathers’ Caves, showing the dark zone above the River Barran, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland. B. Entrance and twilight zone. C. Infected spider in situ, on cave ceiling, showing early infection with immature synnemata on compact, white subiculum, the specimen was found immediately above the figure in the centre. D. Dried specimen, showing creamish-yellow subiculum covering ventral abdomen.

 Scale bars: C = 0.5 mm; D = 0.25 mm.

  Evans, H.C.; Fogg, T.; Buddie, A.G.; Yeap, Y.T. and Araújo, J.P.M. 2025. The araneopathogenic genus Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) in the British Isles, including A New Zombie Species on Orb-weaving Cave Spiders (Metainae: Tetragnathidae).  Fungal Systematics and Evolution. DOI: doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.15.07 

  x.com/joaofungo/status/1884185595884487080

[Fungi • 2022] Multi-locus Phylogeny unmasks Hidden Species within the Specialised Spider-parasitic Fungus, Gibellula (Ascomycota: Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) in Thailand

Gibellula sp. 

  Kuephadungphan, Petcharad, Tasanathai, Thanakitpipattana, ... et Luangsa-ard, 2022. 

DOI: 10.3114/sim.2022.101.04 

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Abstract 

Over 80 species of hypocrealean fungi are reported as pathogens of spiders and harvestmen. Among these fungi, the genus Gibellula is highly regarded as a specialised spider-killer that has never been reported to infect other arthropods. While more than 20 species of Gibellula are known, few attempts to identify the infected spiders have been made despite the fact that the host specificity can help identify the fungal species. Here, we morphologically describe and illustrate eight new species of Gibellula and three new records from Thailand of known species along with the multi-gene phylogeny that clearly showed the segregation among the proposed species. Examination of the Gibellula-infected spider hosts identified Oxyopidae, Uloboridae and, for the first time, the ant-mimicking genus Myrmarachne.

Keywords: Gibellula; araneogenous fungus; new taxa; spider predator

Gibellula 

 

  Kuephadungphan, W.; Petcharad, B.; Tasanathai, K.; Thanakitpipattana, D.; Kobmoo, N.; Khonsanit, A.; Samson, R.A. and Luangsa-ard, J.J. 2022. Multi-locus Phylogeny unmasks Hidden Species within the Specialised Spider-parasitic Fungus, Gibellula (Hypocreales, Cordycipitaceae) in Thailand.   Studies in Mycology. DOI: 10.3114/sim.2022.101.04

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