Pandora

Pandora is a genus of fungi within the order Entomophthorales. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis (Gryganskyi et al. 2012). It was initially formed by Polish mycologist Andrzej Batko (1933-1997), as a subgenus of Zoophthora. Then American mycologist Richard A. Humber raised it to the genus level. The genus name of Pandora is derived from the Latin word pando which means “to become curved” or “to sag” and the generic suffix “ra” thus describing conidia, which are often with weakly outlined bilateral symmetry. They are on one side (abdominal) slightly flattened and on the opposite (dorsal) side, more convex, on the third (lateral) side, they are somewhat curved towards the abdominal side and slightly asymmetrical. It has a cosmopolitan distribution. It is best known by its representative Pandora neoaphidis, which acts as an obligate pathogen in various species of aphids. It is a widespread species that is often found to be the most common fungal insect pathogen on......read more on Wikipedia.