Naming names: the etymology of fungal entomopathogens.

Authors: Vega, Fernando

Submitted to: Use of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Biological Pest Management
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/14/2006
Publication Date: 12/15/2007
Citation: Vega, F.E. 2007. Naming names: the etymology of fungal entomopathogens. Use of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Biological Pest Management. P. 1-11

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The chapter introduces the reader to the etymology of the generic names given to 26 fungal entomopathogens. Possessing some knowledge on how a name originates sometimes provides us with information on a fungal characteristic that might help us identify the organism, e.g., Conidiobolus, Cordyceps, Pandora, Regiocrella, Orthomyces, etc. In other cases, the name won’t tell us a thing of what the fungus looks like, but serves to honor those for whom the fungus was named, e.g., Aschersonia, Batkoa, Beauveria, Nomuraea, Strongwellsea, etc.