Hesperomyces harmoniae
Laboulbeniales are microfungi that always grow attached to the exoskeleton of an arthropod host. They do not form hyphae or a mycelium; instead, they develop from a two-celled ascospore to form a multicellular thallus. Hesperomyces fungi have been reported on over 30 species of ladybirds but is in fact a species complex, each clade seemingly host-species specific. The fungus on the Harlequin Harmonia axyridis is Hesperomyces harmoniae.
Similar fungi on other speces of ladybirds should be recorded as the genus Hesperomyces unless they have been identified to species level.
Harlequin ladybird 
Microscopic examination and photos of specimen and fungus required. You must identify the ladybird host species and note this in your comments
On Ladybirds.
Haelewaters, D. (2019). Hesperomyces “harmoniae” nom. prov.(Laboulbeniales), an ectoparasitic fungus specific to Harmonia axyridis. IOBC-WPRS Bull, 145, 53-55.
AJ Cann
Leicester Botanic Garden
24 February 2024
AJ Cann
Leicester Botanic Garden
24 February 2024
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.