Metarhizium puerense (Hypocreales, Clavicipitaceae): a new species from Yunnan, south-western China

A new species of <i>Metarhizium</i>, <i>M.puerense</i> (Hong Yu bis), was described in Pu'er City, Yunnan Province, south-western China. Based on morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analyses, <i>Metarhiziumpuerense</i> was confirmed to be phylogenetically related to <i>M.album</i>, but was clearly separated and formed a distinct branch. In contrast, the host of <i>Metarhiziumalbum</i> was plants and leafhoppers and that lepidopteran larvae were the host of <i>M.puerense</i>. The diagnostic features of <i>M.puerense</i> were solitary to multiple stromata and smooth-walled, cylindrical with rounded apices conidia.