Ascosphaera apis

Ascosphaera apis is a species of fungus belonging to the family Ascosphaeraceae.^[1] It was one of the first entomopathogen genomes to be sequenced.^[2] It has a cosmopolitan distribution.^[3]

Ascosphaera apis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Eurotiomycetes
Order:	Onygenales
Family:	Ascosphaeraceae
Genus:	Ascosphaera
Species:	A. apis
Binomial name
Ascosphaera apis (Maasen ex Claussen) L.S.Olive & Spiltoir, 1955

It causes the chalkbrood diseases in bees, which rarely kills infected colonies but can weaken them and lead to reduced honey yields^[4] and susceptibility to other pests and diseases.^[5]