Ascospores of Pyxidiophora on mites associated with beetles in trees and wood

Abstract

Records of Pyxidiophora ascospores attached to 116 collections of 35 species of mites associated with beetle habitats in trees and wood show that these associations are common and widespread. Range extensions include western North America, Asia and New Guinea. A large series from one Louisiana locality provides information on ontogenetic and interspecific differences. Although new species of Pyxidiophora are almost certainly present in beetle habitats, new species are not formally described here on the basis of the ascospores. Species of Pyxidiophora, previously known from dung and plant debris and as mycoparasites, are present and common in tree and wood habitats of beetles where phoretic mites are important for ascospore dispersal.