Western Australian Species of Smittium and Other Trichomycetes in Aquatic Insect Larvae

Abstract

Three species of Smittium (Trichomycetes, Harpellales) that may be endemic to Western Australia are described from the hindguts of midge larvae (Diptera, Chironomidae): S. fruticosum, S. angustum and S. microsporum. Axenic cultures were obtained of the latter two fungal species. The occurrence in Western Australia of six geographically widespread species of other Harpellales from dipteran guts is reported together with records of Paramoebidium spp. (Amoebidiales) in Chironomidae and Ephemeroptera.