Ophiocordyceps salganeicola, a parasite of social cockroaches in Japan and insights into the evolution of other closely-related Blattodea-associated lineages

Abstract The entomopathogenic genus Ophiocordyceps includes a highly diverse group of fungal species, predominantly parasitizing insects in the orders Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera . However, other insect are also parasitized by these fungi, for example Blattodea (termites cockroaches). Despite their ubiquity nearly all environments occur, blattodeans rarely found infected filamentous fungi thus, ecology evolutionary history remain obscure. In this study, we propose new species infecting social cockroaches Salganea esakii S. taiwanensis , based on 16 years collections field observations Japan, especially Ryukyu Archipelago. We high degree genetic similarity between specimens from different islands, two that relationship is ancient, likely not originating recent host jump. Furthermore, lineages evolved around same time, at least twice, one beetles termites. have investigated relationships termites present phylogenetic placement O. cf. blattae Our analyses show sinensis could originated an ancestor termite, instead beetle larvae as previously proposed.