Currently, species within the genus Akanthomyces are poorly studied and explored compared to other hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi employed as commercial biocontrol agents. This study aimed to molecularly identify 23 Brazilian Akanthomyces strains, most originally isolated from aphids and scales (n = 22), and one from the coffee leaf rust, and further investigate their pathogenicity to six plant-sucking insects as a means to better understand their host spectra. We also explored the capacity of A. muscarius CG935 for blastospore production via liquid fermentation. Akanthomyces dipterigenus, A. muscarius, A. lecanii, and two unidentified species were recognized as naturally occurring in Brazil. Akanthomyces dipterigenus CG829 and A. muscarius CG935 were highly virulent to nymphs of Bemisia tabaci (67.5–85.4% confirmed mortality) and the aphid Aphis fabae (74.6–75.3%), but only the first strain was virulent to the mealybug Planococcus sp. (80.9%). Akanthomyces lecanii CG824 was weakly virulent to all tested insects. None of the strains were pathogenic to the thrips Caliothrips phaseoli, and all strains showed low virulence to the wooly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus and the scale Duplachionaspis divergens. Submerged liquid fermentation yields varied from 1.72 × 10⁹ (day 2) to 3.90 × 10⁹ (day 5) blastospores mL⁻¹. Blastospores or aerial conidia from A. muscarius CG935, at a single concentration of 1 × 10⁷ viable propagules mL⁻¹, resulted in 67.5–83.1% mortality of B. tabaci nymphs within 8 days post-treatment. Overall, these results encourage additional studies that could lead to the development of new mycopesticides based on Akanthomyces strains.

目前，与用作商业生物防治剂的其他次生昆虫病原真菌相比，Akanthomyces属内的物种的研究和探索很少。本研究旨在从分子角度鉴定 23 种巴西Akanthomyces菌株，其中大多数最初是从蚜虫和鳞片中分离出来的 (n = 22)，还有一种是从咖啡叶锈菌中分离出来的，并进一步研究它们对六种植物吸食昆虫的致病性，从而更好地了解它们的致病性。宿主光谱。我们还探索了A. muscarius CG935 通过液体发酵产生芽生孢子的能力。Akanthomyces dipterigenus、A. muscarius、A. lecanii和两个身份不明的物种被认为是天然存在于巴西的。Akanthomyces dipterigenus CG829 和A. muscarius CG935 对烟粉虱若虫（确认死亡率为 67.5-85.4%）和豆蚜（Aphis fabae） （74.6-75.3%）具有高毒力，但只有第一个菌株对粉蚧平球菌属有毒力。（80.9%）。Akanthomyces lecanii CG824 对所有测试的昆虫均呈弱毒力。所有菌株对蓟马Caliothrips Phaseoli均不致病，所有菌株对毛粉虱Aleurothrixus floccosus和鳞翅目Duplachionaspis divergens均呈低毒力。深层液体发酵产率从1.72×10 ⁹ (第2天)到3.90×10 ⁹ (第5天)芽生孢子mL ^-1变化。来自A.muscarius CG935的芽孢子或气生分生孢子，在1×10 ^{7 个}活繁殖体mL ^-1的单一浓度下，导致处理后8天内烟粉虱若虫的死亡率为67.5-83.1%。总体而言，这些结果鼓励更多的研究，这些研究可能导致基于Akanthomyces菌株的新型霉菌杀虫剂的开发。