NEW RECORDS OF ENTOMOPHTHORALEAN FUNGI FROM IRAN

Among ۱۷۰ insects infected by fungal pathogens, obtained during ۲۰۰۳-۰۸ 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 ۱۹ 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 ۱۷ aphids, Neozygites fresenii on ۲۰ aphids and Pandoraneoaphidis, the most frequent pathogen, were identified on ۶۰ infected aphids.