Occurrence of invertebrate-pathogenic fungi in a Cerrado ecosystem in Central Brazil

Abstract

Occurrence of invertebrate-pathogenic fungi in a protected area of the Cerrado region of Brazil is reported. Fungi were baited with triatomines, ticks, aquatic snails or mosquito larvae from substrates or collected from infected insects. The findings underscore the importance to preserve these fungi and to investigate their potential for vector control.

Keywords:

• biological control
• conservation
• Entomophthorales
• Hypocreales
• isolation
• vector

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil) for financial support and Jeremias Lunardelli for kindly permitting to collect fungi at Santa Branca Farm.