Gibellula tengchongensis sp. nov., a New Spider‐Parasitic Fungus From China

Spider‐pathogenic fungi play important ecological roles and serve as valuable bioresources for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites. Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) comprises highly specialized araneopathogens, yet its species diversity remains underestimated, largely because host masking of sporulation often complicates morphological identification. In this study, we describe a new species of Gibellula discovered in Tengchong, Yunnan, China. Morphologically, the newly discovered species possesses a unique diagnostic combination; it produces only a single synnema, and its conidiophores exhibit a distinct penicillium‐like branching pattern rather than the typical aspergillus‐like head. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU, LSU, TEF1‐α , RPB1 , and RPB2 together with detailed morphological examination strongly support its recognition as a distinct lineage. We further discuss the taxonomic significance and potential evolutionary implications of these atypical features, with emphasis on the correlation between anamorphic morphology and phylogenetic placement within the genus. This discovery not only enriches the known diversity of spider‐parasitic fungi in Southwest China but also provides new perspectives on the morphological plasticity of Gibellula asexual morphs.