Neozygites

Neozygites is a genus of fungi in the family Neozygitaceae, which is in the order Entomophthorales.^[2] Commonly used as a pest controller for mites, aphids, and thrips, the genus was described in 1885 by E. Witlaczil.^[3]

Neozygites
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Entomophthoromycota
Class:	Entomophthoromycetes
Order:	Entomophthorales
Family:	Neozygitaceae
Genus:	Neozygites Witlaczil[1]

Description

Distribution and habitat

Neozygites fresenii has been found in Europe, the Americas, and South Africa.^[4]

Ecology

The main hosts of Neozygites species are mites and aphids; Neozygites fresenii epizootics have been found in colonies of Aphis gossypii in Arkansas, causing a notable reduction in populations of them. Several species of the genus were first described on spider mites, namely N. adjarica, N. floridana, N. tetranychi, and N. tanajoae; Neozygites tanajoae is known to exclusively affect spider mites on Venezuelan and Colombian manioc. Its pest-controlling properties have seen N. tanajoae used in Benin to dissipate Mononychellus tanajoa populations.^[5] The red spider mite is a known host of the epizootics of N. floridana, being affected by the fungus on tomatoes in Brazil.^[6] N. floridana is known to have the ability to significantly lessen the populations of red spider mites, but gratuitous fungicide use can negatively impact the fungus.^[7] The genus is also known to affect thrips.^[8]

Taxonomy

In 1987, a new genus Thaxterosporium was proposed, consisting only of N. turbinatus. In 1991, the genus was synonymized with Neozygites.^[8] The genus Neozygites consists of the following 20 species:^[9][10][11]

• Neozygites abacaridis Miętk. & Bałazy
• Neozygites acaridis (Petch) Milner
• Neozygites adjaricus (Tsints. & Vartap.) Remaud. & S.Keller
• Neozygites cinarae S.Keller
• Neozygites cucumeriformis Miętk. & Bałazy
• Neozygites floridanus (J.Weiser & Muma) Remaud. & S.Keller
• Neozygites fresenii (Nowak.) Remaud. & S.Keller
• Neozygites fumosa (Speare) Remaud. & S.Keller
• Neozygites heteropsyllae Villac. & Wilding
• Neozygites lageniformis (Thaxt.) Remaud. & S.Keller
• Neozygites lecanii (Zimm.) Ben Ze'ev & R.G.Kenneth
• Neozygites linanensis Xiang Zhou & C.Montalva
• Neozygites microlophii S.Keller
• Neozygites osornensis C.Montalva & Barta
• Neozygites parvisporus (D.M.MacLeod & K.P.Carl) Remaud. & S.Keller
• Neozygites remaudierei S.Keller
• Neozygites slavi S.Keller
• Neozygites tanajoae Delal., Humber & A.E.Hajek
• Neozygites tetranychi (J.Weiser) Remaud. & S.Keller
• Neozygites turbinatus (R.G.Kenneth) Remaud. & S.Keller

In addition to these species, two are yet to be classified:^[9]

• Neozygites sp. N51
• Neozygites sp. XZ-2015