Lymantria dispar, also known as the gypsy moth or the spongy moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae native to Europe and Asia. Lymantria dispar is subdivided into several subspecies, with subspecies such as L. d. dispar and L. d. japonica being clearly identifiable without ambiguity. Lymantria dispar has been introduced to several continents and is now additionally found as an invasive species in Africa, North America and South America. The polyphagous larvae live on a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees and can cause severe damage in years of mass reproduction. Due to these features, Lymantria dispar is listed among the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.
Orgyia leucostigma, the white-marked tussock moth, is a moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797. The caterpillar is very common especially in late summer in eastern North America, extending as far west as Texas, California, and Alberta.
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.
Conidiobolus is a genus of fungi in order Entomophthorales. Some species were defined in Conidiobolus but then moved into other genera such as Capillidium and Batkoa.
Ascosphaera is a genus of fungi in the family Ascosphaeraceae. It was described in 1955 by mycologists Charles F. Spiltoir and Lindsay S. Olive. Members of the genus are insect pathogens. The type species, A. apis, causes chalkbrood disease in honey bees. The reproductive ascospores of the fungus are produced within a unique structure, the spore cyst, or sporocyst.
Entomophaga maimaiga is a Japanese fungus which has shown striking success in managing spongy moth populations in North America.
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.
Zoophthora is a genus of fungi in the family Entomophthoraceae. Like other taxa in this family, Zoophthora species cause disease in insects and as such are considered entomopathogenic fungi.
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.
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.
Batkoa is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae and order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. 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.
