A new spider-pathogenic species Gibellula liaoningensis (Cordycipitaceae) from Liaoning Province, China

Gibellula species are obligate parasites of spider, gaining extensive attention upon their taxonomy. In this study, we describe Gibellula liaoningensis sp. nov. based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. The multi-locus phylogenetic analyses using six molecular markers (SSU, LSU, ITS, TEF-1α, RPB1, and RPB2) robustly resolved its phylogenetic distinctiveness within the genus. Morphologically, G. liaoningensis is characterized by penicillate conidiophores exhibiting a significantly shortened stipe and clavate conidia. This taxon represents the first recorded Gibellula species in the Northeast China region, expanding the known geographic distribution of this ecologically specialized fungal genus.