What is "lecanicillium"

Lecanicillium is a genus of fungi in the order Hypocreales and is described as anamorphic Cordycipitaceae; 21 species are currently described. These are entomopathogenic fungus species that were previously widely known as Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Viegas.

The IndexFungorum records the following species:

• Lecanicillium acerosum W. Gams, H.C. Evans & Zare 2001,
• Lecanicillium antillanum (R.F. Castañeda & G.R.W. Arnold) Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium aphanocladii Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium aranearum (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium araneicola Sukarno & Kurihara 2009,
• Lecanicillium attenuatum Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium dimorphum (J.D. Chen) Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium evansii Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium flavidum (W. Gams & Zaayen) W. Gams & Zare 2008,
• Lecanicillium fungicola (Preuss) Zare & W. Gams 2008; Anamorphic Cordycipitaceae
  • Lecanicillium fungicola var. aleophilum (W. Gams & Zaayen) W. Gams & Zare 2008,
  • Lecanicillium fungicola var. fungicola (Preuss) Zare & W. Gams 2008,
• Lecanicillium fusisporum (W. Gams) Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium kalimantanense Kurihara & Sukarno 2009,
• Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimm.) Zare & W. Gams 2001: pathogens of soft scale insects ( Coccidae)
• Lecanicillium longisporum (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001: pathogens of aphids
• Lecanicillium muscarium (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001: pathogens of whiteflies and thrips
• Lecanicillium nodulosum (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium pissodis Kope & I. Leal 2006,
• Lecanicillium psalliotae (Treschew) Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium saksenae (Kushwaha) Kurihara & Sukarno 2009,
• Lecanicillium tenuipes (Petch) Zare & W. Gams 2001,
• Lecanicillium wallacei (H.C. Evans) H.C. Evans & Zare 2008.

At least 15 products based on Lecanicillium spp. have been, or are in the process of being commercialized as biological pesticides, against a variety of pests in numerous countries worldwide.