Akanthomyces lecanii
Anamorph: colonies reaching 15-25 mm diam. in 10 days, rather compact, yellowish white, with deep yellow reverse. Conidiogenous cells relatively short, 11-20 (-30) x 1.3-1.8 µm, aculeate and strongly tapering, proliferating percurrently, collarette and periclinal thickening apparently absent, produced singly or in whorls of up to 6 directly on prostrate hyphae, or on short, more or less erect conidiophores; sometimes also produced secondarily on previous conidiogenous cells. Conidia formed in slimy heads at the apex of the conidiogenous cells, not forming chains, typically short-ellipsoidal, 2.5-3.5 (-4.2) x 1-1.5 µm, homogeneous in size and shape. Chlamydospores absent.
Teleomorph: referred to as Torrubiella confragosa, not known in GBI material.
Not formally assessed, but unlikely to be threatened in GB&I.
Similar to Akanthomyces (Lecanicillium) muscarius but with shorter conidia and conidiogenous cells.
Parasitic on a range of insects, mostly Coleoptera and Diptera. At least some GB collections may be A. muscarius, but further research is needed. A. lecanii is widely used as a biological control agent.
Scattered throughout Great Britain, as far north as southern Scotland.