A natural fungal infection of a sylvatic cockroach with Metarhizium blattodeae sp. nov., a member of the M. flavoviride species complex

Abstract

A wild, forest-dwelling cockroach from the subfamily Ectobiidae (order Blattodea) in a nature reserve in Cavalcante, in the state of Goiás, Brazil, was found to be infected by a new, genetically distinct species in the Metarhizium flavoviride species complex that we describe here as Metarhizium blattodeae. The status of this fungus as a new species is supported by both multigenic sequence comparisons and protein profiles generated by MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight) mass spectrometry. This is one of the first reports of a naturally occurring fungal pathogen affecting any sylvatic (forest-dwelling) cockroach from any part of the world. M. blattodeae caused up to 96 % mortality of Periplaneta americana nymphs (a serious peridomestic cockroach species) after 10 d.

Revisiting Metarhizium and the description of new species from Thailand

“…Many new species were added to Metarhizium in the last five years ( Montalva et al., 2016 , Chen et al., 2017 , Luangsa-ard et al., 2017 , Chen et al., 2018a , Chen et al., 2018c , Luz et al., 2019 , Yamamoto et al., 2020 ), including the discovery of 19 new Metarhizium species and two new Purpureomyces species in this study. Despite all the works on Metarhizium and the increase in the number of species studied the support of the clades separating Metarhizium, Pochonia, Metapochonia and other related genera did not improve.…”

“…The results from these studies suggests that M. koreanum has a narrow insect host range and is only specific to planthoppers. Additionally, M. acridum is another species known as a specialist with a narrow insect host range found only on certain locusts and grasshoppers ( Driver et al., 2000 , Wang et al., 2011 ) as are M. blattodeae and M. argentinense that only occur on forest cockroaches ( Montalva et al., 2016 , Gutierrez et al., 2019 ).…”

“…In Thailand, for instance, the ubiquitous M. anisopliae or M. flavoviride were never found, as they were never looked for in the soil. Only few records were made from Africa, South and Central America ( Samson, 1974 , Montalva et al., 2016 , Lopes et al., 2018 , Gutierrez et al., 2019 ). While most of the species discovered in Metarhizium are considered entomopathogenic, studies of their plant-growth promoting and endophytic, rhizosphere or soil-dwelling properties have been increasing ( Hu and St Leger, 2002 , Chad et al., 2014 , Iwanicki et al., 2019 ).…”

Revisiting Metarhizium and the description of new species from Thailand

“…Many new species were added to Metarhizium in the last five years ( Montalva et al., 2016 , Chen et al., 2017 , Luangsa-ard et al., 2017 , Chen et al., 2018a , Chen et al., 2018c , Luz et al., 2019 , Yamamoto et al., 2020 ), including the discovery of 19 new Metarhizium species and two new Purpureomyces species in this study. Despite all the works on Metarhizium and the increase in the number of species studied the support of the clades separating Metarhizium, Pochonia, Metapochonia and other related genera did not improve.…”

“…The results from these studies suggests that M. koreanum has a narrow insect host range and is only specific to planthoppers. Additionally, M. acridum is another species known as a specialist with a narrow insect host range found only on certain locusts and grasshoppers ( Driver et al., 2000 , Wang et al., 2011 ) as are M. blattodeae and M. argentinense that only occur on forest cockroaches ( Montalva et al., 2016 , Gutierrez et al., 2019 ).…”

“…In Thailand, for instance, the ubiquitous M. anisopliae or M. flavoviride were never found, as they were never looked for in the soil. Only few records were made from Africa, South and Central America ( Samson, 1974 , Montalva et al., 2016 , Lopes et al., 2018 , Gutierrez et al., 2019 ). While most of the species discovered in Metarhizium are considered entomopathogenic, studies of their plant-growth promoting and endophytic, rhizosphere or soil-dwelling properties have been increasing ( Hu and St Leger, 2002 , Chad et al., 2014 , Iwanicki et al., 2019 ).…”

Histological Findings in Captive Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches ( Gromphadorhina portentosa ) and a Literature Review

“…20 A naturally occurring fatal fungal pathogen ( Metarhizium blattodeae ) was described affecting a sylvatic (forest-dwelling) cockroach in Brazil. 35 M. blattodeae was pathogenic to American cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) nymphs under laboratory conditions. 35 Other described fungal infections in cockroaches include Hymenostilbe ventricosa that was found to affect nymphs attached to the underside of leaves in Thailand, 25 Ophiocordyceps blattarioides that was described to affect wild adult cockroaches from Columbia, 46 Ophiocordyceps blattae that was found on cockroaches in Sri Lankan gardens, 40 and Herpomyces shelfordellae that was found to affect Turkestan cockroaches ( Shelfordella lateralis ) from Hungary, Poland, and the USA.…”

“…35 M. blattodeae was pathogenic to American cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) nymphs under laboratory conditions. 35 Other described fungal infections in cockroaches include Hymenostilbe ventricosa that was found to affect nymphs attached to the underside of leaves in Thailand, 25 Ophiocordyceps blattarioides that was described to affect wild adult cockroaches from Columbia, 46 Ophiocordyceps blattae that was found on cockroaches in Sri Lankan gardens, 40 and Herpomyces shelfordellae that was found to affect Turkestan cockroaches ( Shelfordella lateralis ) from Hungary, Poland, and the USA. 22 Unfortunately, most of these reports did not investigate pathological findings in the affected insects, so it is unclear whether these infections are similar to those observed in this group of MHC.…”

Revisiting Metarhizium and the description of new species from Thailand

“…Many new species were added to Metarhizium in the last five years ( Montalva et al., 2016 , Chen et al., 2017 , Luangsa-ard et al., 2017 , Chen et al., 2018a , Chen et al., 2018c , Luz et al., 2019 , Yamamoto et al., 2020 ), including the discovery of 19 new Metarhizium species and two new Purpureomyces species in this study. Despite all the works on Metarhizium and the increase in the number of species studied the support of the clades separating Metarhizium, Pochonia, Metapochonia and other related genera did not improve.…”

“…The results from these studies suggests that M. koreanum has a narrow insect host range and is only specific to planthoppers. Additionally, M. acridum is another species known as a specialist with a narrow insect host range found only on certain locusts and grasshoppers ( Driver et al., 2000 , Wang et al., 2011 ) as are M. blattodeae and M. argentinense that only occur on forest cockroaches ( Montalva et al., 2016 , Gutierrez et al., 2019 ).…”

“…In Thailand, for instance, the ubiquitous M. anisopliae or M. flavoviride were never found, as they were never looked for in the soil. Only few records were made from Africa, South and Central America ( Samson, 1974 , Montalva et al., 2016 , Lopes et al., 2018 , Gutierrez et al., 2019 ). While most of the species discovered in Metarhizium are considered entomopathogenic, studies of their plant-growth promoting and endophytic, rhizosphere or soil-dwelling properties have been increasing ( Hu and St Leger, 2002 , Chad et al., 2014 , Iwanicki et al., 2019 ).…”

Histological Findings in Captive Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches ( Gromphadorhina portentosa ) and a Literature Review

“…20 A naturally occurring fatal fungal pathogen ( Metarhizium blattodeae ) was described affecting a sylvatic (forest-dwelling) cockroach in Brazil. 35 M. blattodeae was pathogenic to American cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) nymphs under laboratory conditions. 35 Other described fungal infections in cockroaches include Hymenostilbe ventricosa that was found to affect nymphs attached to the underside of leaves in Thailand, 25 Ophiocordyceps blattarioides that was described to affect wild adult cockroaches from Columbia, 46 Ophiocordyceps blattae that was found on cockroaches in Sri Lankan gardens, 40 and Herpomyces shelfordellae that was found to affect Turkestan cockroaches ( Shelfordella lateralis ) from Hungary, Poland, and the USA.…”

“…35 M. blattodeae was pathogenic to American cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) nymphs under laboratory conditions. 35 Other described fungal infections in cockroaches include Hymenostilbe ventricosa that was found to affect nymphs attached to the underside of leaves in Thailand, 25 Ophiocordyceps blattarioides that was described to affect wild adult cockroaches from Columbia, 46 Ophiocordyceps blattae that was found on cockroaches in Sri Lankan gardens, 40 and Herpomyces shelfordellae that was found to affect Turkestan cockroaches ( Shelfordella lateralis ) from Hungary, Poland, and the USA. 22 Unfortunately, most of these reports did not investigate pathological findings in the affected insects, so it is unclear whether these infections are similar to those observed in this group of MHC.…”

Revisiting Metarhizium and the description of new species from Thailand

“…Many new species were added to Metarhizium in the last five years ( Montalva et al., 2016 , Chen et al., 2017 , Luangsa-ard et al., 2017 , Chen et al., 2018a , Chen et al., 2018c , Luz et al., 2019 , Yamamoto et al., 2020 ), including the discovery of 19 new Metarhizium species and two new Purpureomyces species in this study. Despite all the works on Metarhizium and the increase in the number of species studied the support of the clades separating Metarhizium, Pochonia, Metapochonia and other related genera did not improve.…”

“…The results from these studies suggests that M. koreanum has a narrow insect host range and is only specific to planthoppers. Additionally, M. acridum is another species known as a specialist with a narrow insect host range found only on certain locusts and grasshoppers ( Driver et al., 2000 , Wang et al., 2011 ) as are M. blattodeae and M. argentinense that only occur on forest cockroaches ( Montalva et al., 2016 , Gutierrez et al., 2019 ).…”

“…In Thailand, for instance, the ubiquitous M. anisopliae or M. flavoviride were never found, as they were never looked for in the soil. Only few records were made from Africa, South and Central America ( Samson, 1974 , Montalva et al., 2016 , Lopes et al., 2018 , Gutierrez et al., 2019 ). While most of the species discovered in Metarhizium are considered entomopathogenic, studies of their plant-growth promoting and endophytic, rhizosphere or soil-dwelling properties have been increasing ( Hu and St Leger, 2002 , Chad et al., 2014 , Iwanicki et al., 2019 ).…”

Histological Findings in Captive Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches ( Gromphadorhina portentosa ) and a Literature Review

“…20 A naturally occurring fatal fungal pathogen ( Metarhizium blattodeae ) was described affecting a sylvatic (forest-dwelling) cockroach in Brazil. 35 M. blattodeae was pathogenic to American cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) nymphs under laboratory conditions. 35 Other described fungal infections in cockroaches include Hymenostilbe ventricosa that was found to affect nymphs attached to the underside of leaves in Thailand, 25 Ophiocordyceps blattarioides that was described to affect wild adult cockroaches from Columbia, 46 Ophiocordyceps blattae that was found on cockroaches in Sri Lankan gardens, 40 and Herpomyces shelfordellae that was found to affect Turkestan cockroaches ( Shelfordella lateralis ) from Hungary, Poland, and the USA.…”

“…35 M. blattodeae was pathogenic to American cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) nymphs under laboratory conditions. 35 Other described fungal infections in cockroaches include Hymenostilbe ventricosa that was found to affect nymphs attached to the underside of leaves in Thailand, 25 Ophiocordyceps blattarioides that was described to affect wild adult cockroaches from Columbia, 46 Ophiocordyceps blattae that was found on cockroaches in Sri Lankan gardens, 40 and Herpomyces shelfordellae that was found to affect Turkestan cockroaches ( Shelfordella lateralis ) from Hungary, Poland, and the USA. 22 Unfortunately, most of these reports did not investigate pathological findings in the affected insects, so it is unclear whether these infections are similar to those observed in this group of MHC.…”