Batkoa | |
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Genus: | Batkoa R. A. Humber, 1989 [1] |
Batkoa is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae and order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. [2] This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis (Gryganskyi et al. 2012). [3]
The genus name of Batkoa is named by the American mycologist Richard A. Humber in 1989 to honor the Polish mycologist Andrzej Batko (1933–1997). [1]
The presence of rhizoids and having globose (rounded) rather than pear-shaped conidia helps identify Batkoa species from Entomophaga species. [4]
The Hyphal bodies are elongated and walled (but not proto-plastic). The condiphores are simple with narrow 'neck' between the condium and condiogenous cell. The primary condia are globose and round, multi-nucleate, discharged by papillar eversion. The rhizoids (if present) are thicker than the vegetative hypae, with terminal discoid holdfast. The resting spores bud laterally from the parental cell. Unfixed nuclei have granular contents stained by aceto-orcein. [5]
Generally, when an insect (or host) comes in contact with Batkoa spores, they enter its body through leg joints or other chinks in its armor or through gaps in the 'skin'. The spores then start to multiply. As the fungi begin to overwhelm the insect, it stops eating, mating and crawls (or flies short distances) to a high, exposed place like on the side of a tree trunk or at the tip of a tall grass blade. There the fungus sends out threadlike hyphae from within the bug and attaching the insect to its perch, securely. The Batkoa fungus somehow triggers the host insect to open its wings fully, exposing its soft abdomen completely. That is the last time the host moves. Finally, the very small spores are expelled out from the insect's belly, showering everything below with spores and potentially, 'powdered death'. [6]
Batkoa major is known to infect the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in north-eastern North America, [7] including Pennsylvania. [8] No other recorded insects have been killed by Batkoa major in the Pennsylvania area. [9] Batkoa major is also a host on the ptilodactylid beetle ( Ptilodactyla serricollis in Maine and North Carolina. [4] The pine beauty moth (Panolis flammea) in Scotland. [10] It was also found on aphid, Myzodium modestrum in Sweden (Gustafsson, 1965).
In June 2007, an epizootic was observed in a crane fly ( Tipula sp.) population in an area between Galugah to Bishehband in Mazandaran province of Iran. The fungus was identified as Batkoa apiculata(Thaxter) Humber. [11] Batkoa apiculata has also been reported discovered on 3 species of aphid in France (Thoizon, 1970) and while in Poland, it was found on a wide range of insects (Balazy, 1993). [4] Baktoa apiculata has also been found on moth, Mentaxya muscosa (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) in Africa. [12]
Various Batkoa species and also Furia species are being studied for the control of the (spittlebugs) cercopids Mahanarva fimbriolata and Deois schach which are known pests of sugarcane and pastures in Brazil. [13] [14]
Batkoa amrascaeS. Keller & Villac. (1997) infects the cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in the Philippines. [15]
In Spain, Batkoa apiculata was found on Diptera Nematocera and Batkoa limoniae was found on Diptera Limoniidae. [16]
It has been recorded being found mainly in North America and Great Britain, [17] with a few other recordings elsewhere. Such as parts of Europe; France, Poland, Sweden, [4] Spain, [16] Iran, [11] the Philippines, [15] and Brazil. [13] [14] Batkoa hydrophila, [18] and Batkoa gigantea has been recorded found in Switzerland. [19]
As accepted by Species Fungorum; [20]
An entomopathogenic fungus is a fungus that can kill or seriously disable insects. They do not need to enter an insect's body through oral ingestion or intake; rather, they directly penetrate though the exoskeleton.
Metarhizium robertsii is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and causes disease in various insects by acting as a parasitoid. It is a mitosporic fungus with asexual reproduction, which was formerly classified in the form class Hyphomycetes of the phylum Deuteromycota.
The Entomophthorales are an order of fungi that were previously classified in the class Zygomycetes. A new subdivision, Entomophthoromycotina, in 2007, was circumscribed for them.
Entomophthora is a fungal genus in the family Entomophthoraceae. Species in this genus are parasitic on flies and other two-winged insects. The genus was circumscribed by German physician Johann Baptist Georg Wolfgang Fresenius (1808–1866) in 1856.
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Entomophthoromycota is a division of kingdom fungi. In 2007, it was placed at the taxonomic rank of subphylum in the most recent revision of the entire fungus kingdom. In 2012, it was raised to the rank of phylum as "Entomophthoromycota" in a scientific paper by Richard A. Humber 2012. Divided into three classes and six families, it contains over 250 species that are mostly arthropod pathogens or soil- and litter-borne saprobes.
Pandora is a genus of fungi within the order Entomophthorales. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.
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The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Vietnam. It has spread invasively to Japan, South Korea, and the United States, where it is often referred to by the acronym "SLF". Its preferred host is the tree of heaven, but it also feeds on other trees, and on crops including soybean, grapes, stone fruits, and Malusspp. In its native habitat, L. delicatula populations are regulated by parasitic wasps.
Erynia is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae and order Entomophthorales. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.
Ann E. Hajek is an American entomologist with a focus in insect-microbe interactions. She was a professor of entomology at Cornell University from 1994 to 2024.
Massospora is a genus of fungi in the Entomophthoraceae family, within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.
Entomophthoraceae is a family of fungi in the order Entomophthorales. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis. Most species in the family are obligately entomopathogenic. There are two subfamilies, Erynioideae and Entomophthoroideae, which were proposed in 2005.
Batkoa major is a naturally occurring fungus that infects insects.
Strongwellsea is a genus of fungi within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. They are known to infect insects. Infected adult dipteran hosts develop a large hole in their abdomens, through which conidia (spores) are then actively discharged while the hosts are still alive.
Tarichium is a genus of fungi within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.
Furia is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.
Eryniopsis is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae and order Entomophthorales. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.
Meristacrum is a fungal genus in the monotypic family Meristacraceae, of the order Entomophthorales. They are parasites of soil invertebrates, they typically infect nematodes, and tardigrades.
Neozygites is a genus of fungi in the family Neozygitaceae, which is in the order Entomophthorales. Commonly used as a pest controller for mites, aphids, and thrips, the genus was described in 1885 by E. Witlaczil.
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