Massospora: taxon details and analytics

Domain
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Zygomycota
Class
Entomophthoromycetes
Order
Entomophthorales
Family
Entomophthoraceae
Genus
Massospora
Species
Scientific Name
Massospora

Summary description from Wikipedia:

Massospora

Massospora is a genus of fungi in the Entomophthoraceae family, within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis (Gryganskyi et al. 2012).

It includes more than a dozen obligate, sexually transmissible pathogenic species that infect (and kill) adult gregarious cicadas (Hemiptera) worldwide. At least two species are known to produce psychoactive compounds during infection: M. cicadina is known to produce cathinone; M. platypediae or M. levispora produces psilocybin.

Named in 1879 by the American botanist Charles Horton Peck (1833–1917).

The genus name of Massospora was derived from two words in the Greek, masso which means 'to grind' and spora for 'spore'. This then describes the complete disintegration of the host-insect's internal tissues eventually leading to a (described by the author as), "pulverulent mass of spores within" that can be seen after the terminal parts of the abdomen fall off.

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Massospora in languages:

English
Cicada Fungi
Thai
สกุล ราทำลายจักจั่น

Images from inaturalist.org observations:

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Massospora
©tipsywithwater, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©tipsywithwater, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©tipsywithwater, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©John P Friel, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Massospora
©John P Friel, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Massospora
©Gabriele Cordeiro, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Gabriele Cordeiro, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Gabriele Cordeiro, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Gabriele Cordeiro, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Massospora
©Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Massospora
©kanelawhorn, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©kanelawhorn, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©kanelawhorn, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©kanelawhorn, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Elan Trybuch, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Edward Hicks, some rights reserved (CC-BY-ND)
Massospora
©kylecanan, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©kylecanan, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©kylecanan, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Justin Moscon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Justin Moscon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Justin Moscon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Rebekkah Leigh LaBlue, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Rebekkah Leigh LaBlue, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Rebekkah Leigh LaBlue, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Massospora
©Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Massospora
©Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Massospora
©Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Massospora
©Liz Childress, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Liz Childress, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Liz Childress, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Massospora
©Alexis Williams, some rights reserved (CC-BY)