Metschnikowia hamakuensis sp. nov., Metschnikowia kamakouana sp. nov. and Metschnikowia mauinuiana sp. nov., three endemic yeasts from Hawaiian nitidulid beetles.

Three heterothallic, haplontic yeast species, Metschnikowia hamakuensis, Metschnikowia kamakouana and Metschnikowia mauinuiana, are described from isolates associated with endemic nitidulid beetles living on various endemic plants on three Hawaiian islands. As morphospecies, they are similar to Metschnikowia hawaiiensis, but based on mating compatibility and ascospore formation, they can be assigned clearly to distinct biological species. Analysis of ITS/5.8S and D1/D2 large subunit rDNA sequences shows that, with M. hawaiiensis and two other isolates, these species form a distinct subclade within the large-spored Metschnikowia species, indicating that they are Hawaiian endemics. Type cultures are: M. hamakuensis, UWOPS 04-207.1(T) = CBS 10056(T) = NRRL Y-27834(T) (type, h(+)) and UWOPS 04-204.1 = CBS 10055 = NRRL Y-27833 (allotype, h(-)); M. kamakouana, UWOPS 04-112.5(T) = CBS 10058(T) = NRRL Y-27836(T) (type, h(+)) and UWOPS 04-109.1 = CBS 10057 = NRRL Y-27835 (allotype, h(-)); and M. mauinuiana, UWOPS 04-190.1(T) = CBS 10060(T) = NRRL Y-27838(T) (type, h(+)) and UWOPS 04-110.4 = CBS 10059 = NRRL Y-27837 (allotype, h(-)).