Moelleriella reineckeana (P. Henn.) P. Chaverri, M. Liu & K.T. Hodge
Family: Clavicipitaceae
Moelleriella reineckeana image
Nigel Hywel-Jones  
Mata, M., D. Penjor and S. Pradham. 2010. Fungi of Bhutan. National Mushroom Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Local name: No local name known

Edibility: Too small and inconspicuous for culinary purposes.

Habitat: On scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) infesting the underside and upper side of (usually) dicotyledonous leaves especially along major veins and the petiole.

Description: Stroma: Hemispherical when mature but conico-pulvinate to pulvinate in immature specimens, up to 5 mm diam., ca. 1.0-2.5 mm high, moderately hard, orange to brownish orange when fresh. Perithecia: Scattered, ostioles slightly projecting and darker brown. Asci: Up to 200 µm long, containing 8 ascospores. Ascospores:  Dividing into part-spores in the ascus. Part-spores: Cylindric 6-9 µm long x 1-1.5 µm wide.

Comments: This species has a wide distribution from the Indian Ocean as far west as Madagascar (but apparently not continental Africa) into the Pacific Ocean (north to Japan and east to Tahiti). It has also been recorded from Australia. In Bhutan it is found in sub-tropical forest below 2000 metres. Elsewhere (but not yet in Bhutan) this has also been recorded infesting scale insect pests of orchard crops – especially guava (Psidium spp.).