NEW RECORDS OF ENTOMOPHTHORALEAN FUNGI FROM IRAN

Among 170 insects infected by fungal pathogens, obtained during 2003-08 from three Northern provinces of Iran (Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan), eight taxa of entomophthoralean fungi were identified including four pathogens of dipteran insects: Entomophaga tipulae was found on a crane fly, Entomophthora muscae was seen on five flies attached to broadbean leaves, Pandora bulata was observed only on one fly attached to a hawthorn leave and Pandora dipterigena was observed on 19 dark-winged fungus gnats of Sciaridae family, attached to Persian Ironwood and lettuce leaves. Most of the collected samples were infected aphids. Zoophthora sp. on one aphid, Entomophthora planchoniana on 17 aphids, Neozygites fresenii on 20 aphids and Pandoraneoaphidis, the most frequent pathogen, were identified on 60 infected aphids.