Nasonovia ribisnigri is a key pest of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Brazil that requires alternative control methods to synthetic pesticides. We report, for the first time, the occurrence of Paecilomyces niveus as an entomopathogen of the aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri in Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. Samples of mummified aphids were collected from lettuce crops. The fungus P. niveus (PaePR) was isolat...

Spiranthes himalayensis is described here as a new species based primarily on molecular phylogenetic evidence followed by morphological comparison with other Asian Spiranthes species. It is distributed widely from southern India to tropical China. Phylogenetic analysis shows its close affinity to S. nivea which is endemic to Taiwan. Morphologically, the new species looks close to S. sinensis an...

Aspergillus westerdijkiae is the main producer of several biologically active polyketide metabolites including isoasperlactone and asperlactone. A 5298bp polyketide synthase gene "aomsas" has been cloned in Aspergillus westerdijkiae by using gene walking approach and RACE-PCR. The predicted amino acid sequence of aomsas shows an identity of 40-56% with different methylsalicylic acid synthase ge...

Eleven species of the genus Tephritis with an uncommon banded wing pattern and/or solid apical crossband/spot instead of apical fork, mainly from the Palaearctic Middle East, are described and keyed, including Tephritis afrostriata new species, T. cameo new species, T gladius new species, T. ochroptera new species, and T. robusta new species. The following synonymy is established: Tephritis adm...

The distribution and abundance of the various truffle species are influenced by climate, soil, vegetation conditions. setting these characteristics is necessary for potential species’ cultivation. Here, we describe ecological Moroccan truffles desert their associations with host plants. We also determine climate soil parameters relating to geographic fructification truffles. In contrast truffle...