Dialonectria diatrypellicola

Dialonectria diatrypellicola is best described as a hyperparasite, living at the expense of another parasitic fungus, in this case Diatrypella quercina.

Despite their diminutive size, its spherical to pear-shaped perithecia of a striking red to orange color stand out distinctly against the dark stroma of its host.

Dialonectria diatrypicola is virtually identical and could be confused with it, but fruits exclusively on stromata of the genus Diatrype (such as bullata or stigma), whereas diatrypellicola occurs exclusively on oak wood on Diatrypella quercina.

The mycological study presented here is supported by a collection made in late October on Quercus robur wood on stromata of Diatrypella quercina in Erandio (Bizkaia).