Two New Species of Ascosphaera and Notes on the Conidial State of Bettsia Alvei

Two new species, A. aggregata and A. fimicola, are described. A. aggregata is probably pathogenic in the leaf-cutting bees, Megachile pacifica and M. centuncularis, and in the mason bee, Osmia rufa. In all 3 spp. it causes a swelling of the larval body due to development of the spore cysts beneath the larval integument that easily bursts giving the dead larvae a ragged appearance.

A. fimicola is primarily a saprophyte growing on the fecal pellets of O. rufa. The conidial state of Bettsia alvei is proposed transferred to Chrysosporium farinaecola comb. nov. (Ovularia farinaecola Skou).