Zoophthora radicans andZoophthora petchi sp. nov. [Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales], two species of the “Sphaerosperma group” attacking leaf-hoppers and frog-hoppers [Hom.]

Most isolates of “sphaerosperma group” fungi described by different authors from leaf-hoppers and frog-hoppers appear to fit intoEntomophthora sphaerossperma (Fresenius)sensu strictoRemaudiereet al. (1976) synonymous withZoophthora radicans (Brefeld)Batko. One of these fungi had been described byRostrup in 1896 as a new species,Entomophthora aphrophorae, but although resemblingZoophthora radicans, it cannot be reliably identified because of its incomplete description.Petch, in 1935, erred in giving under that name a detailed description of a fungus from the same host species, as the 2 were morphologically different.Petch's fungus differs from bothEntomophthora aphrophorae andZoophthora radicans by having longer and wider (by ca. 25%) primary and secondary conidia. It differs from the other species of the “sphaerosperma group” in the shape and/or dimensions and length/width ratio of the different kinds of conidia and capillispores. Accordingly, a new name is proposed for this taxon:Zoophthora petchiBen-Ze'ev & Kenneth, sp. nov.