Starmerella anomalae f.a., sp. nov., Starmerella asiatica f.a., sp. nov., Starmerella henanensis f.a., sp. nov. and Starmerella scarabaei f.a., sp. nov., four yeast species isolated from scarab beetles

Eleven yeast strains representing four novel species of the genus Starmerella were isolated from scarabs beetles collected in Nanyang, Henan Province, Central China. Phylogenetic analysis using combined sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions placed all the novel species in a clade distinct from the other known species in the clade representing the members of the genus Starmerella. These novel species differed from each other or their closest known species by more than 4.9 % nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domains and by more than 9.1 % nucleotide substitutions in the ITS regions. The four novel species can also be separated from their closest relatives in terms of physiological characteristics. No asci or signs of conjugation were found in the novel species on the most common sporulation media. The novel species are designated as Starmerella anomalae f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 157145T=CICC 33094T=CBS 14178T), Starmerella asiatica f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 15782T=CICC 33089T=CBS 14173T), Starmerella henanensis f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 15766T=CICC 33088T=CBS 14172T) and Starmerella scarabaei f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 15821T=CICC 33090T=CBS 14174T).