title: Natural occurrence of Zoophthora radicans (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) on Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae), an invasive pest recently found in Brazil.
abstract: Occurrence of Zoophthora radicans infecting nymphs and adults of Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellape, 2006 is reported in Brazil. This is a new record of host for this fungal species and the first fungal pathogen associated with this pest worldwide. Infection of Z. radicans on T. peregrinus populations on commercial Eucalyptus plantation (Eucalyptus spp.) reached up to 100%, and low insect densities were associated with high levels of fungal infection in three out of seven plots. This pathogen seems to be virulent against T. peregrinus and may play an important role in population regulations of this invasive pest through naturally induced epizootics.
authors.affiliation: EMBRAPA Arroz e Feijão, Rodovia GO 462 Km 12, CP 179, CEP 75375-000, Santo Antonio de Goiás, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel Moura
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mascarin
authors.forename: Vanessa da Silveira
authors.initials: Vda S
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Marcelo Mendes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Italo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delalibera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D020091:Entomophthorales / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D020096:Zygomycosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*