Identification of two entomopathogenic fungi naturally infecting Pterochloroides persicae (Cholodkovsky 1899) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in peach orchards in Tunisia

Symptoms of mycosis of Pterochloroides persicae (Cholodkovsky 1899) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in a peach and almond orchard were recorded in April 2011. The causal agent was morphologically identified. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1 and ITS4) was used for molecular identification and verification of the morphological determination. Both methods gave consistent results and we recorded for the first time the natural occurrence of two fungal species belonging to the order Hypocreales (Phylum Asocomycota); Beauveria bassiana Viull (Hypocreales, Cordycipitacae) and Metacordyceps liangshanensis (Hypocreales, Clavicipitaceae).