اولین گزارش قارچ Beauveria bassiana روی زنجرک‌Orosanga japonicus از ایران

‌The leaf hopper, Orosanga japonicus Melichar (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae) has been collected and reported in recent years from the western region of Mazandaran province, Iran. Adults and nymphs feed on plant sap and deposit large amounts of “honey dew” on leaves. Orosanga japonicus is observed on important crops such as citrus, Kiwi fruit and ornamental plants with large populations. While sampling of the pest in Nashtarood (west of Mazandaran) in August and September 2020, adult insects suspected of fungal infection were observed and collected. For identification of the specimens, infected insects with fungi were sent to the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection. Specimens were cultured on sabouraudʾs dextrose agar and the entomopathogenic fungus was identified as Beauveria bassiana Balsamo (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) using morphological characteristics. This fungus is characterized by hyaline conidiogenous cells emerged directly or through stalk cells from vegetative hyphae. The stalk cells were swollen, producing up to five conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells, forming spore balls, were flask-shaped with subglobose or globose base, mainly with a well-defined compression. The genus Beauveria is characterised by the sympodial development of conidiogenous cells. Conidia of B. bassiana were observed mostly subglobose, globose and hyaline with a length size of 2.1–3.2 µm and width size of 2–3 µm. The colony was at first white, then becoming pale yellow, powdery and crateiform. Beauveria bassiana is reported on O. japonicus for the first time in Iran and it might be a good candidate in the control programs of this pest.