Mycosis of bandedwinged whitefly (Trialeurodes abutilonea) (Homoptera: aleyrodidae) caused by Orthomyces aleyrodis gen. & sp. nov. (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae).

A new genus and species of fungus, Orthomyces aleyrodis Steinkraus, Humber & Oliver gen. & sp. nov. (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) is described. In 1994 and 1995, this fungus caused epizootics in high populations of bandedwinged whitefly (Trialeurodes abutilonea) on cotton and cocklebur in Alabama. In 1996, T. abutilonea populations were lower and no infected specimens were found. This is the first report of an entomophthoralean infecting an aleyrodid in the New World and the first report of entomophthoralean epizootics in whiteflies.