Occurrence of Aschersonia placenta and Hypocrella raciborskii on Asterolecanium ungulata in durian (Durio zibethinus)

Abstract

A lecanoid scale Asterolecanium ungulata, a pest of durian, was observed to be effectively parasitized in nature by an orange‐coloured, entomopathogenic fungus. Both anamorphic and teleomorphic stages were frequently produced on the same stroma on the insect cadaver. Using cultural, histopathological and scanning electron microscopy techniques, the anamorph was identified as Aschersonia placenta, and the teleomorph as Hypocrella raciborskii. This represents the first report of A. placenta and H. raciborskii on the scale A. ungulata.

Keywords:

• Aschersonia placenta
• Hypocrella raciborskii
• Asterolecanium ungulata
• Durio zibethinus
• entomopathogenic fungus