Reappraisal of the phylogenetic relationships of hirsutella-like fungi across Ophiocordycipitaceae and Polycephalomycetaceae, reveals seven new species.fas

Entomopathogens constitute a unique and specialized trophic group of fungi, most of which belong to Hypocreales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota). In this study, eight specimens were collected and isolated from China and Thailand. Through comprehensive morphological analyses and multigene phylogenetic studies, seven novel species and one known species were identified. These seven new species are distributed in four genera: Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae), Polycephalomyces, Pleurocordyceps and Dingleyomyces (Polycephalomycetaceae). Comprehensive macro- and micro-morphological features, taxonomic descriptions, and phylogenetic trees illustrating the placement of the new taxa are provided. Notably, this paper presents the first comprehensive summary of the distribution of hirsutella-like species within the families Ophiocordycipitaceae and Polycephalomycetaceae, along with an analysis of the similarities and differences in their phialidic characteristics. Additionally, the pairwise homoplasy index (PHI) test results and morphological differences between the new species and its closely related taxa are provided.