Trichomycete gut fungi in Australian aquatic insect larvae

Arthropods containing gut fungi (Zygomycotina: Trichomycetes) were studied from 85 collecting sites in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. The emphasis was on the fungal order Harpellales in endemic larvae or nymphs of aquatic Diptera, Ephemeroptera, and Plecoptera, but included a few Eccrinales in Crustacea. Of the more than 25 species of trichomycetes dissected from arthropods, 20 are described and illustrated. Of these, 10 are new species that are possibly endemic to Australia. All new Australian species were different from new species described in a correlated study of New Zealand trichomycetes. The new Australian species are Austrosmittium aussiorum, Glotzia tasmaniensis, Smittium aciculare, Sm. boomerangum, Sm. delicatum, Sm. paludis, Sm. rupestre, Stachylina queenslandiae, St. thaumaleidarum (Harpellales), and Parataeniella latrobi (Eccrinales). Other possible new genera and species are briefly described, but not named. Thirteen axenic cultures of Harpellales were obtained; these include one of the new species, Sm. boomerangum, and another species not previously isolated, Sm. elongatum. Some unusual insect families were found infested by Australian trichomycetes. Distribution data on these fungi and their hosts are provided.