Infections with the ascomycete fungusMetschnikowia typographi sp.nov. in the bark beetlesIps typographus andIps amitinus (Coleoptera, Scolytidae)

The ascomycete fungusMetschnikowia typographi sp.nov. is described. It infects the spruce bark beetlesIps typographus L. andIps amitinusEichl. Masses of vegetative cells and navicular asci (I. typographus 13–17 × 2 µm;I. amitinus 17–22 × 2 µm) were found in cells of the midgut epithelium and in the body cavity of infected beetles. Each ascus contains two needle-shaped ascospores flattened in the central part, 0.5–1.5 × 0.3 × 13–15 µm and pointed at both ends. The parasitic species ofMetschnikowia, M. bicuspidata, M. artemiae, M. unicuspidata, M. wickerhami andM. typographi are discussed as a special group of the genus characterized by morphological characters.