Lecanicillium muscarium

rdf:langString Lecanicillium muscarium

rdf:langString R. Zare & W. Gams, 2001

rdf:langString Lecanicillium

rdf:langString muscarium

rdf:langString Lecanicillium muscarium is the approved name of an entomopathogenic fungus species, that was previously widely known as Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Viegas), but is now understood to be an anamorphic form in the Cordyceps group of genera in the Cordycipitaceae. It now appears that isolates formerly classified as V. lecanii could be L. attenuatum, L. lecanii, L. longisporum, L. muscarium or L. nodulosum. For example, several recent papers, such as Kouvelis et al. carried out mitochondrial DNA studies, refer to this name. This fungus was first described in 1861 and has a worldwide distribution. Insects are infected when they come into contact with the sticky fungal spores which then grow and invade the body, thus the internal organs are consumed, leading to their death. In horticulture and agriculture, the Lecanicillium muscarium isolate (isolate GCRI 19–79) was first developed by scientists, Drs Richard A Hall and HD Burges at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute (now Warwick HRI: formerly part of Horticulture Research International).