Papiliomyces sinensis (Clavicipitaceae) and Paraisaria pseudoarcta (Ophiocordycipitaceae), two new species parasitizing Lepidopteran insects from southwestern China

<i>Cordyceps</i> <i>sensu lato</i> species are highly important for medicinal purposes and functional food nutrients. Two new species belonging to <i>Cordyceps</i> <i>sensu lato</i> are introduced, i.e., <i>Papiliomycessinensis</i> and <i>Paraisariapseudoarcta</i>. To comprehensively describe the significance of these two species, morphological data were supplemented with phylogenetic analyses based on six loci (nrSSU, ITS, nrLSU, <i>tef-1α</i>, <i>rpb1</i>, and <i>rpb2</i>). Phylogenetically, <i>Pap.sinensis</i> is most closely related to <i>Pap.albostromaticus</i> and <i>Pap.shibinensis</i>, yet it can be distinguished from them by its larger stromata (51.3-85.7 × 3.1-3.5 vs. 37.0-58.0 × 2.5-3.0) and longer phialides (10.1-26.9 × 0.9-3.3 vs. 9.8-24.3 × 1.5-3.1). <i>Paraisariapseudoarcta</i> is phylogenetically sister to <i>Par.arcta</i>. The longer stromata (43-51 vs. 16) and larger secondary ascospores (5.6-8.3 × 1.7-3.1 vs. 2.6-4.2 × 0.5-1.3) in <i>Par.pseudoarcta</i> are characteristics that distinguish the two species. A thorough morphological description and phylogenetic analysis of <i>Pap.sinensis</i> and <i>Par.pseudoarcta</i> were provided. In addition, taxonomic misconceptions of <i>Par.gracilis</i> (Ophiocordycipitaceae) were corrected.