Species structure of entomopathogenic fungi in the soil of Jata Nature Reserve

Study determines the species composition and frequency of entomopathogenic fungi in the soil of Jata Nature Reserve (E Poland). Fungi were isolated from soil samples by 'insect bait method' with Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor larvae. We found five species of entomopathogenic fungi: Beauveria bassiana, Isaria farinosa, I. fumosorosea, Metarhizium anisopliae and Lecanicillium lecanii. The two most common species M. anisopliae and I. farinosa comprised 50.1% and 21.8% of the total number of the infected insects, respectively. Species composition of entomopathogenic fungi in the examined stands and the number of infected insects differed significantly depending on the sampling season and insect used as bait