Molecular evidence of a teleomorph-anamorph connection between Cordyceps scarabaeicola and Beauveria sungii and its implication for the systematics of Cordyceps sensu stricto

•Telemorphic stage of Beauveria sungii is confirmed to be Cordyceps scarabaeicola.•Cordyceps scarabaeicola is recommended to be used for this holomorph based on ICN.•Nomenclatural issues are discussed on Cordyceps and Beauveria based on ICN.

A teleomorph of Beauveria sungii S.A. Rehner & Humber is identified as Cordyceps scarabaeicola Y. Kobayasi based on the teleomorphic material of the B. sungii isolate used in the recent phylogenetic study. Cordyceps Fr. 1818 is an older generic name than Beauveria Vuill. 1912 in Cordyceps sensu stricto. Here, C. scarabaeicola is suggested to be adopted for B. sungii on the priority basis of both generic name and species epithet in compliance with the recent revision of Article 59 of the Melbourne Code (recently changed to the ‘International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plant’ or ICN). The pros and cons of a unified nomenclature for pleomorphic fungi are briefly discussed with reference to Beauveria.