AXENIC CULTURE OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF BRANCHED TRICHOMYCETES

Two new endocommensal fungi belonging to the Genistellaceae (Harpellales) were isolated in pure culture from the hindguts of Diptera larvae: Smittium culesitae from the mosquito Culesita impatiens, on a 10% brain‐heart infusion, and S. simulii from the black fly Simulium argus, on a potato dextrose‐yeast extract medium. Both species appear to have no unusual nutritional or cultural requirements and can grow on synthetic media and a variety of extract media, as can also the other 4 existent isolates of Smittium (Rubetella). Identical isolation methods proved unsuccessful for culturing various other genera of Harpellales and Eccrinales, with the exception of an Enterobryus sp. (from the fiddler crab Uca crenulata) which survived several generations before ceasing to grow. The genus Rubetella Tuzet & Manier is discarded in favor of Smittium Poisson, for reasons discussed.