Muscardine

Muscardine is a disease of insects. It is caused by many species of entomopathogenic fungus. Many muscardines are known for affecting silkworms. Muscardine may also be called calcino.

While studying muscardine in silkworms in the 19th century, Agostino Bassi found that the causal agent was a fungus. This was the first demonstration of the germ theory of disease, the first time a microorganism was recognized as an animal pathogen.

There are many types of muscardine. They are often named for the color of the conidial layer each fungus leaves on its host.

Black muscardine is caused by Beauveria brongniartti and Metarhizium anisopliae.

Metarhizium species such as M. anisopliae can cause fatal disease in over 200 species of insect.

Aspergillosis of insects can be called brown muscardine. Over 10 Aspergillus species can cause the disease, such as A. flavus and A. tamari. The conidial layer may be brownish or greenish yellow.

Grassy muscardine is caused by Hirsutella necatrix. This fungus produces an enzyme that breaks down the chitin in its host's body.

Gray muscardine is caused by Isaria javanica.

Green muscardine is caused by Nomuraea rileyi. Keepers of silkworms recognize symptoms such as dark brownish lesions with lighter centers on the sides and back of the larva. At death the larva turns white and within a few days it is covered in a bright green fungal coating.

Orange muscardine is caused by Sterigmatocystis japonica.

Penicillosis of insects is considered a type of muscardine, particularly when caused by Penicillum citrinum and P. granulatum.

Red muscardine is caused by Sporosporella uvella and Isaria fumosoroseus.

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