Masters of the manipulator: two new hypocrealean genera, () and (), parasitic on the zombie ant fungus .

During surveys in central Florida of the zombie-ant fungus , which manipulates the behavior of the carpenter ant , two distinct fungal morphotypes were discovered associated with and purportedly parasitic on . . Based on a combination of unique morphology, ecology and phylogenetic placement, we discovered that these morphotypes comprise two novel lineages of fungi. Here, we propose two new genera, and , each including a single species within the families and , respectively. We generated draft genomes for both new species and performed morphological and multi-loci phylogenetic analyses. The macromorphology and incidence of both new species, and , suggest that these fungi are mycoparasites since their growth is observed exclusively on . mycelium, stalks and ascomata, causing evident degradation of their fungal hosts. This work provides a starting point for more studies into fungal interactions between mycopathogens and entomopathogens, which have the potential to contribute towards efforts to battle the global rise of plant and animal mycoses. : Araújo JPM, Lebert BM, Vermeulen S, et al. 2022. Masters of the manipulator: two new hypocrealean general, Niveomyces (Cordycipitaceae) and Torrubiellomyces (Ophiocordycipitaceae), parasitic on the zombie ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani. Persoonia 49: 171-194. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.05.