Two nematode-parasitic isolates of Harposporium are
reported to form synanamorphs attributable to the Hirsutella.
One is attributed
to Harposporium anguillulae, the second is described as a new
species,
H. cerberi. H. cerberi also produced an arthroconidial
synanamorph. In infection studies of nematodes, conidia typical of
Harposporium proved to be capable of killing bacterial feeding
nematodes (Rhabditis sp.) when ingested. Infective conidia of
H. cerberi were located posterior to the oesophageal bulb, while
those
of H. anguillulae lodged above it. Hirsutella
conidia were not observed to be infective or adhesive, and none of the
spore
forms was capable of infecting either of two species of stylet-bearing
nematodes (Aphelenchus sp. and Meloidogyne hapla).