Neozygites is a genus of fungi in the family Neozygitaceae, which is in the order Entomophthorales. Commonly used as a pest controller for mites, aphids, and thrips, the genus was described in 1885 by E. Witlaczil.
Description
Distribution and habitat Neozygites fresenii has been found in Europe, the Americas, and South Africa.
Ecology The main hosts of Neozygites species are mites and aphids; Neozygites fresenii epizootics have been found in colonies of Aphis gossypii in Arkansas, causing a notable reduction in populations of them. Several species of the genus were first described on spider mites, namely N. adjarica, N. floridana, N. tetranychi, and N. tanajoae; Neozygites tanajoae is known to exclusively affect spider mites on Venezuelan and Colombian manioc. Its pest-controlling properties have seen N. tanajoae used in Benin to dissipate Mononychellus tanajoa populations. The red spider mite is a known host of the epizootics of N. floridana, being affected by the fungus on tomatoes in Brazil. N. floridana is known to have the ability to significantly lessen the populations of red spider mites, but gratuitous fungicide use can negatively impact the fungus. The genus is also known to affect thrips.
Taxonomy In 1987, a new genus Thaxterosporium was proposed, consisting only of N. turbinatus. In 1991, the genus was synonymized with Neozygites. The genus Neozygites consists of the following 20 species: Neozygites abacaridis Miętk. & Bałazy Neozygites acaridis (Petch) Milner Neozygites adjaricus (Tsints. & Vartap.) Remaud. & S.Keller Neozygites cinarae S.Keller Neozygites cucumeriformis Miętk. & Bałazy Neozygites floridanus (J.Weiser & Muma) Remaud. & S.Keller Neozygites fresenii (Nowak.) Remaud. & S.Keller Neozygites fumosa (Speare) Remaud. & S.Keller Neozygites heteropsyllae Villac. & Wilding Neozygites lageniformis (Thaxt.) Remaud. & S.Keller Neozygites lecanii (Zimm.) Ben Ze'ev & R.G.Kenneth Neozygites linanensis Xiang Zhou & C.Montalva Neozygites microlophii S.Keller Neozygites osornensis C.Montalva & Barta Neozygites parvisporus (D.M.MacLeod & K.P.Carl) Remaud. & S.Keller Neozygites remaudierei S.Keller Neozygites slavi S.Keller Neozygites tanajoae Delal., Humber & A.E.Hajek Neozygites tetranychi (J.Weiser) Remaud. & S.Keller Neozygites turbinatus (R.G.Kenneth) Remaud. & S.Keller In addition to these species, two are yet to be classified: Neozygites sp. N51 Neozygites sp. XZ-2015
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