Masters of the manipulator: two new hypocrealean genera, <i> Niveomyces </i> (<i>Cordycipitaceae</i>) and <i> Torrubiellomyces</i> (<i>Ophiocordycipitaceae</i>), parasitic on the zombie ant fungus <i> Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani</i>

During surveys in central Florida of the zombie-ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani , which manipulates behavior carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus two distinct fungal morphotypes were discovered associated with and purportedly parasitic on O. . Based a combination unique morphology, ecology phylogenetic placement, we that these comprise novel lineages fungi. Here, propose new genera, Niveomyces Torrubiellomyces each including single species within families Cordycipitaceae Ophiocordycipitaceae respectively. We generated de novo draft genomes for both performed morphological multi-loci analyses. The macro-morphology incidence species, coronatus zombiae suggest fungi are mycoparasites since their growth is observed exclusively mycelium, stalks ascomata, causing evident degradation hosts. This work provides starting point more studies into interactions between mycopathogens entomopathogens, have potential to contribute towards efforts battle global rise plant animal mycoses.