Metarhizium majus
| Metarhizium majus | |
|---|---|
| Remains of Oryctes rhinoceros adult infected with M. majus: Dipolog, Mindanao, Philippines (1977) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Sordariomycetes |
| Order: | Hypocreales |
| Family: | Clavicipitaceae |
| Genus: | Metarhizium |
| Species: | M. majus |
| Binomial name | |
| Metarhizium majus (J.R.Johnst.) J.F.Bisch., Rehner & Humber (2009) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Metarhizium anisopliae var. majus | |
Metarhizium majus is the name given to a group of fungal isolates that are known to be virulent against Scarabaeidae, a family of beetles. Previously, this species has had variety status in Metarhizium anisopliae (var. majus) and its name is derived from characteristically very large spores (typically 2.5–4 μm x 10–14 μm long) for the genus Metarhizium. There has been considerable interest in developing isolates of this species into mycoinsecticides: especially against the coconut and oil palm beetle pest Oryctes in SE Asia, the Pacific region and Africa.
- Metarhizium majus infected Oryctes rhinoceros larva with hyphal (whitish colour) and conidia sporulation/geminating (greenish colour) from its cuticle.
- Stages of Oryctes rhinoceros larva infected with M. majus. From left to right, 1st column: Infection symptom with "black dotes" or necrotic spots on integument; 2nd: Mummified; Mycelium (whitish colour) grow on integument; 3rd: Conidia (greenish colour) grow on integument; 4th: Decomposed grubs.
It is an anamorph, a suggested teleomorph was Cordyceps brittlebankisoides.