Metarhizium anisopliae

Metarhizium anisopliae

Green muscardine disease
File:Tsetse with Metarhizium.jpg
Type:	Fungus
Binomial:	Metarhizium anisopliae
Targets:	Insects

Metarhizium anisopliae (also known as Entomophthora anisopliae in the early 1900s) was named after the insect species it was originally isolated from, the beetle Anisoplia austriaca. It is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and causes disease in various insects by acting as a parasite; it thus belongs to the entomopathogenic fungi. It is a mitosporic fungus with asexual reproduction for which a teleomorph has not yet been discovered. Cordyceps taii was shown to be the teleomorph of Metarhizium taii, so it seems likely that the one of M. anisopliae will also turn out to be a Cordyceps species. However, it is also possible that some, if not most, strains of M. anisopliae have lost the capability of reproducing sexually.

Red locusts killed by M. anisopliae var. acridum during a biological control campaign. Notice the green coat of spores on the insects.

Uses

Metarhizium anisopliae is being used as a biological insecticide to control a number of pests such as Grasshoppers, Termites, Thrips, catterpillers ..aphids/ etc. and its use in the control of malaria-transmitting mosquitos is under investigation.

Action

The disease caused by the fungus is called green muscardine disease because of the green color of its spores. When these mitotic (asexual) spores (properly called conidia) of the fungus come into contact with the body of an insect host, they germinate and the hyphae that emerge penetrate the cuticle. The fungus then develops inside the body eventually killing the insect after a few days; this lethal effect is very likely aided by the production of insecticidal cyclic peptides (destruxins). The cuticle of the cadaver often becomes red. If the ambient humidity is high enough, a white mold then grows on the cadaver that soon turns green as spores are produced.

Application

The microscopic spores are typically sprayed on affected areas; the plan for malaria control is to coat mosquito nets or cotton sheets attached to the wall with them. The level of insect control (mortality) in general depends on factors like the number of spores applied against the insect host, the fungus strain used, the formulation and weather conditions. Oil-based formulations allow the application of fungal spores under dry conditions.

Precautions

The fungus does not appear to infect humans or other animals and is considered safe as an insecticide.

Resistance

Most insects living near the soil have evolved natural defenses against entomopathogenic fungi like M. anisopliae. This fungus is therefore locked in an evolutionary battle to overcome these defenses, which has led to a large number of strains that are adapted to certain groups of insects. Some strains are so specific that they have attained variety status, like Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, which almost exclusively infects grasshoppers in the suborder Caelifera of the Orthoptera.

References

• F. Driver, R. J. Milner, W. H. Trueman (2000). "A Taxonomic revision of Metarhizium based on sequence analysis of ribosomal DNA". Mycological Research. 104: 135–151.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• C. J. Lomer, C. Prior, C. Kooyman (1997). "Development of Metarhizium spp. for the control of grasshoppers and locusts". Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada. 171: 265–286.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Donald G. McNeil Jr., Fungus Fatal to Mosquito May Aid Global War on Malaria, The New York Times, 10 June 2005
• Index Fungorum record, links to a list of synonyms
• LUBILOSA Program, website of the program that developed Metarhizium for locust control