Description of a novel termite ectoparasite, Termitaria hexasporodochia sp. nov. (Kathistaceae), presenting an unusual six-sectioned infestation, and a key to the fungal family Kathistaceae Author Wilson, Megan M. Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, 07102. Author Emam, Amany Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, 07102. Author Davis, Steven R. American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024. Author Hall, Gene Author Barden, Phillip Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, 08854. & American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024. & Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark NJ, 07102 Author Ware, Jessica L. Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, 07102. & American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024. text Phytotaxa 2023 2023-04-04 591 2 106 124 http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-22-0755-PDN journal article 55403 10.11646/phytotaxa.591.2.3 042d8c70-bb40-408f-b79c-86f59ee01042 1179-3163 7797494 Diagnostic key for the Kathistaceae 1. Sexual morph present with sporodiomata ...................................................................................................................................... 10 - Asexual morph present with sporodochium ..................................................................................................................................... 2 2. The production of microconidia and macroconidia appendages ................................................................................ T. cavernosum - Microconidia produced at conidiogenous locus................................................................................................................................3. 3. Phialide tips echinulate and pigmented ........................................................................................................................... T. coronata - Phialide tips flat and unpigmented .................................................................................................................................................. 4. 4. Phialides greater than 160 μm in length ................................................................................................................... T. longiphialidis - Phialides less than 120 μm in length ............................................................................................................................................... 5. 5. Conidia are large; dimensions ~ 8 μm × 4 μm ............................................................................................................ T. macrospora - Conidia are small; dimensions ~4 μm × 2 μm ................................................................................................................................ 6. 6. Large rhomboid or ellipsoid sporodochia; 5–6 mm in diameter .............................................................................. T. rhombicarpa - Circular or ellipsoid sporodochia; less than 1 mm in diameter ....................................................................................................... 7. 7. Maximum of 5 conidia per collarette ................................................................................................................................. T. snyderi - Minimum of 8 conidia per collarette ............................................................................................................................................... 8. 8. Phialides tips exposed at surface of sporodochium and terminate in flaps; phialides are fertile and not arranged into compartments .......................................................................................................................................... T. hexasporodochia sp. nov . - Phialide tips covered at surface of sporodochium by superficial epihymenium; phialides arranged into sterile and fertile compartments .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9. 9. Sporodochia exhibit a beak-like pycnidium and ostiole and are ellipsoid in shape; conidiogenous locus ~15 μm from base .......... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... M. crustosa - Sporodochia lack pycnidia and ostiole; sporodochia are stellate or ellipsoid in shape; conidiogenous locus ~ 50 μm from base ..... ........................................................................................................................................................................................... M. silvestri 10. 4 ascospores produced in ascus ........................................................................................................................... Kathistes fimbriata - 8 ascospores produced in ascus ........................................................................................................................................................11 11. Ascospores develop with 3 septa........................................................................................................................ Kathistes calyculata - Ascospores develop with 5 septa ................................................................................................................ Kathistes analemmoides