A new species of Stigmatomyces from Baltic amber, the first fossil record of Laboulbeniomycetes.
A fossil ascomycete was found attached to the thorax of a stalk eyed fly (Diopsidae: Prosphyracephala succini) in a fragment of Baltic amber. The fungus is assigned to the extant genus Stigmatomyces and described as S. succini sp. nov. This find is the first fossil record of the order Laboulbeniales. At the same time it constitutes the oldest record of a parasitic fungus on an insect. The palaeohabitat is discussed with regard to the find.
Rossi
Walter
W
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 1-67100 Coppito (AQ), Italy. vrossi@univaq.it
Kotrba
Marion
M
Triebel
Dagmar
D
D018647:Amber; D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005060:Europe; D005580:Fossils
D018647:Amber