Entomophaga is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Entomophthoraceae family and also the order Entomophthorales. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis (Gryganskyi et al. 2012).Gryganskyi AP, Humber RA, Smith ME et al (2012) Molecular phylogeny of the Entomophthoromycota. Mol Phylogenet Evol 65:682–694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2012.07.026
Well-known species are Entomophaga grylli and Entomophaga maimaiga, which can infect grasshoppers and gypsy moths respectively.
The genus name of Entomophaga was derived from combining two words in the Greek: entomon meaning insect and phaga meaning to eat. The genus was created in 1964 by the Polish mycologist Andrzej Batko (1933 - 1997). He wrote “... to commemorate the international journal Entomophaga devoted to problems of biological control of insect pests.”Batko, A. 1964. Bull. Acad. Pol. Sci., Série des sciences biologiques 12, 323-326 The journal later ceased publication in 1998 and was replaced by BioControl.
Species As accepted by Species Fungorum;
Entomophaga antochae S. Keller, 2007 Entomophaga apiculata (Thaxt.) S. Keller, 1991 Entomophaga aulicae (E. Reichardt) Humber, 1984 Entomophaga batkoi (Balazy) S. Keller, 1988 Entomophaga bukidnonensis Villac. & Wilding, 1994 Entomophaga calopteni (Bessey) Humber, 1989 Entomophaga caroliniana (Thaxt.) Samson, H.C. Evans & Latgé, 1988 Entomophaga conglomerata (Sorokin) S. Keller, 1988 Entomophaga destruens (Weiser & A. Batko) A. Batko, 1964 Entomophaga diprionis Balazy, 1993 Entomophaga domestica S. Keller, 1988 Entomophaga gigantea (S. Keller) S. Keller, 1988 Entomophaga grylli (Fresen.) A. Batko, 1964 Entomophaga kansana (J.A. Hutchison) A. Batko, 1964 Entomophaga lagriae Balazy, 1993 Entomophaga limoniae S. Keller, 1988 Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu & R.S. Soper, 1988 Entomophaga major (Thaxt.) S. Keller, 1991 Entomophaga obscura (I.M. Hall & P.H. Dunn) A. Batko, 1964 Entomophaga papillata (Thaxt.) S. Keller, 1988 Entomophaga ptychopterae (S. Keller & Eilenberg) A.E. Hajek & Eilenberg, 2003 Entomophaga pyriformis Balazy, 1993 Entomophaga saccharina (Giard) A. Batko, 1964 Entomophaga tabanivora (J.F. Anderson & Magnar.) Humber, 1984 Entomophaga tenthredinis (Fresen.]]) A. Batko, 1964 Entomophaga thaxteriana A. Batko, 1964 Entomophaga thuricensis S. Keller, 2007 Entomophaga tipulae (Fresen.) Humber, 1989 Entomophaga transitans (S. Keller) A.E. Hajek & Eilenberg, 2003
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