Insect Pathogens: Species Originally Described from their Resting Spores Mostly as Tarichium Species (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae)

SUMMARY

The literature on the entomogenous fungal genus Tarichium (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) has been reviewed. There are 32 alleged species, assigned mainly on the basis of resting spore morphology. Many of these are not well known because their descriptions have appeared in publications difficult to obtain; none has been cultured on artificial medium.

It is recommended that 25 species, for which a conidial “state” is still unknown, be designated by the provisional term “Entomophthora (Tarichium).” Another two have been placed in the genus Entomophthora and five are regarded as uncertain as to genus.

Two keys have been designed, one based on the known characteristics of the resting spores and the other on the host.

It is apparent that as more becomes known about these species, it will be necessary to discuss the identity or validity of some of them.