THE GENUS AKANTHOMYCES ON SPIDERS FROM TAIWAN

Akanthomyces ampullifer, A. aranearum, A. novoguineensis and a new spe cies A. ovalongatus are described from dead spiders in Taiwan. Akantho myces ovalongatus is characterized by its globose to subglobose conidi ogenous cells that have an abruptly narrowed neck, and obovoid, oblong to ellipsoidal conidia. In these features, A. ovalongatus resembles A . aranearum, A. arachnophilus and A. novoguineensis, but it can be rea dily separated from these species either by roughness of conidiogenous cells, or by morphological characters of conidia. A key to the thirte en known species of Akanthomyces is provided.