Introduction

Entomopathogenic fungi form a diverse group of fungal pathogens that primarily infect insects and spiders, although they have also been reported from mites, nematodes, rotifers, centipedes, and other arthropods (Liang 1996; Alviti Kankanamalage et al. 2025). These fungi play crucial ecological roles in regulating arthropod populations and hold significant economic importance as biological control agents and sources of bioactive compounds (Wang et al. 2024a). In China, entomopathogenic fungi have been utilized for centuries, with the earliest recorded use of “white stiff silkworm” (Bái Jiāng Cán) documented in Shen Nong’s Materia Medica during the Qin and Han dynasties (Dong et al. 2016).

Taxonomically, entomopathogenic fungi in the order Hypocreales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) are predominantly classified within four families: Clavicipitaceae, Cordycipitaceae, Ophiocordycipitaceae, and Polycephalomycetaceae (Sung et al. 2007; Quandt et al. 2014; Spatafora et al. 2015; Kepler et al. 2017; Li et al. 2021; Xiao et al. 2023; Wang et al. 2025; Zhang et al. 2026). Some species are renowned medicinal taxa, such as Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung et al., Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr., and Cordyceps chanhua Z.Z. Li et al. Additionally, several anamorphic genera (e.g., Beauveria spp. and Metarhizium spp.) have been confirmed as vital biocontrol agents of pest insects (Wang et al. 2024a).

Species delimitation within Cordycipitaceae has been increasingly refined through the integration of morphological characterization and multigene phylogeny. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed cryptic diversity and clarified evolutionary relationships within the family, leading to the re-evaluation of generic boundaries and the description of numerous new taxa (Khonsanit et al. 2024; Chen et al. 2025a, 2025b; Chang et al. 2026). For instance, the genus Arachnidicola Khons. et al. was recently established to accommodate spider-associated lineages previously placed in other genera (Khonsanit et al. 2024), highlighting the ongoing need for comprehensive taxonomic studies. Members of Arachnidicola are characterized by their association with spider hosts and produce penicillate or verticillate conidiophores with hyaline, aseptate conidia (Khonsanit et al. 2024). Another genus, Simplicillium W. Gams, is a well-known lineage within Cordycipitaceae, typically distinguished by its simple, usually unbranched phialides and slimy conidial heads; species in this genus have been reported from diverse substrates including insects, fungi, and soil (Zare and Gams 2001; Nonaka et al. 2013; Yan et al. 2023).

The Fodingshan Nature Reserve, located at the junction of Shiqian, Yuqing, Shibing, and Zhenyuan counties in Guizhou Province, represents an underexplored region for entomopathogenic fungal diversity. With an elevation of 1,869 m, Fodingshan is the second-highest peak in the Wuling Mountains (Gao et al. 2015). The reserve experiences a warm, humid mid-subtropical monsoon climate with abundant rainfall, creating favorable conditions for diverse organisms (Yu 2016; Liu et al. 2022). Previous studies have documented rich insect resources in this area (Wu et al. 2018; Jiang et al. 2025); however, entomopathogenic fungi remain an understudied group.

During a survey of entomopathogenic fungi in the Fodingshan Reserve, infected insect and spider specimens were collected, and fungal strains were isolated and purified. Preliminary identification of the isolated strains was conducted using BLASTn searches of the ITS locus, followed by multigene phylogenetic analyses, morphological characterization and PHI test. Based on these integrated approaches, three new species in two genera within Cordycipitaceae are described herein: Arachnidicola fodingshanensis sp. nov., Simplicillium fodingshanense sp. nov., and S. shiqianense sp. nov.