Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis sp. nov. from larvae of Phassus nodus (Hepialidae) in Hunan Province, southern China

An entomogenous taxon, associated with larvae of Phassus nodus (Hepialidae) collected from Xuefeng Mountains, Hunan Province, China, was found to be a new species, Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis sp. nov. It differs from similar species in having long stromata, without a sterile apex, narrow asci, long ascospores and by its occurrence on Phassus nodus in living root or trunk of Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum. Combined sequence data from the 5.8S-ITS rDNA, nrSSU, EF-1α, and RPB1 gene loci also confirmed the distinctiveness of this new species. It is presently the world’s largest known Cordyceps sensu lato species.