2026/02/17 by P. Dolci, E. Quesada-Moraga, C. Tkaczuk +6 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control #Hemiptera Insect Studies #Plant and fungal interactions
paper · doi:10.3897/mycokeys.128.181516
openalex publication_date 2026/02/17 · openalex created_date 2026/02/18 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
An infection event of the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) has been described, for the first time, in northwest Italy. The causative agents were two entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Entomophthorales, specifically Zoophthora radicans and, more rarely, Batkoa major . The morphological description and molecular identification of fungi have been reported, in addition to recording meteorological data that may have affected the outbreak of the infection. When massive events are ongoing, entomopathogenic fungi really behave as determinant regulators of natural populations of arthropod pests and the possibility to stress their action in this direction should be deeply investigated.