The Laboulbeniomycetes are a unique group of
fungi
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
that are obligatorily associated with
arthropods, either as
external parasites (
Herpomycetales and
Laboulbeniales) or for dispersal (
Pyxidiophorales).
Herpomycetales and Laboulbeniales fungi are minute; their fruiting bodies, referred to as ''thalli'', commonly measure less than one millimeter. They live on the antennae, the mouthparts or other body regions of their arthropod hosts. Although several species of Laboulbeniomycetes have more or less extensive, root-like hyphal systems (
haustoria
In botany and mycology, a haustorium (plural haustoria) is a rootlike structure that grows into or around another structure to absorb water or nutrients. For example, in mistletoe or members of the broomrape family, the structure penetrates th ...
) inside their hosts, as a group these fungi are relatively harmless to their hosts. These fungi occur usually only on adult hosts; apparently immature arthropods eliminate them during
ecdysis (adult arthropods no longer molt). Some thallus-forming species are
dioecious, that is, they have separate female and male individuals, like ''
Herpomyces'' (in the order
Herpomycetales).
External links
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References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q133658
Fungus classes
Taxa described in 1898