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Microcera larvarum
Nomenclature
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Family: NectriaceaeGenus: Microcera
SUMMARY
Anamorph: Conidiomata absent. Sporodochia developing in culture from a white mycelial mat, visible as pale orange clusters of short branched conidiophores bearing terminal and lateral ± cylindrical conidiogenous cells 10–18 × 2–3 μm in size, that proliferate percurrently with inconspicuous collarettes and periclinal thickening. Conidia 16–24 × 3·5–4 μm, strongly curved, cylindrical to fusiform-cylindrical with a pointed apex and well-marked foot cell, becoming 3-septate when mature, hyaline, thin- and smooth-walled, without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.
Teleomorph: stromata absent, the ascomata forming singly or in small clusters on a small web of hyphae or directly on the host insect. Ascomata pyriform, 250-330 µm diam. with a tapering neck 70-100 µm in height, collapsing laterally when dry. Peridium orange-red, becoming purple in KOH and yellow in lactic acid, 30-40 µm thick, composed of an outer layer of thick-walled ± globose cells 5-10 x 4-6 µm in size, and an inner layer of thin-walled elongate hyaline cells 10-15 x 3-5µm in size. Ostiole periphysate, interascal tissue not present at maturity. Asci 80-95 x 7-9 µm, cylindrical to narrowly clavate-cylindrical, short-stalked, thin-walled, the apex rounded without a clear ring, 8-spored. Ascospores obliquely uniseriate or apically biseriately arranged, (9-) 10.5-13 x (5-) 5.5-6.5 µm, broadly fusiform to ellipsoidal, 1-septate, slightly constricted at the septum, hyaline in the ascus but becoming pale yellow-brown and finely verrucose when mature, thin-walled, without a gelatinous sheath or appendages.