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Beauveria is a fungus used in agriculture for natural pest control. It reproduces asexually with spores and can cause health problems in some individuals. B. bassiana is a species that causes disease and death in insects and is also an anamorphic form of Cordyceps.
Beauveria is a fungal genus within the ascomycete or “sac mushrooms”. This fungus is best known among those involved in agriculture and the agricultural community, where it is used as a form of natural pest control. It is also sometimes found in homes and other structures and can cause health problems for certain individuals, although this is extremely rare.
These fungi reproduce asexually with spores, producing colonies that can mature in about a week under the right conditions. The mold has a slightly cottony texture and can be white, pink or yellow, depending on the species. Because Beauveria fungi grow quite rapidly, they can colonize an area quickly, sending hyphae into the substrate to give the fungus a solid foothold.
Beauveria species are typically found in soil and plant debris and also in infected insects. The most famous species is probably B. bassiana, a species known to cause disease and death in insects. The fungus is classically ingested, at which point the spores begin to grow, eventually breaking down the insect’s internal structures and causing its death. Silkworms and corn borers are particularly vulnerable to this fungus, although a number of other insect pests are also susceptible. Farmers can use topical applications of the mushrooms as a form of natural pest control.
In people with compromised immune systems, exposure to Beauveria spores can lead to infection with the fungus. In these cases, the ingested or manipulated spores begin to grow, spreading the hyphae throughout the host’s body and causing serious health problems to develop. Most people have a strong enough immune system to resist being infected with Beauveria, but in people who don’t have this ability, the infection can become quite severe. Antifungal medications can be used in an attempt to control the infection and prevent it from spreading.
B. bassiana is also notable because it is an anamorphic or asexual form of Cordyceps. In the sexual or teleomorph form, Cordyceps, the fungus produces a distinctive fruiting body that is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Anamorphs and teleomorphs are unique to the mushroom world and the science and classification behind them can get quite complex. The important thing to know is that many teleomorphs have multiple anamorphic forms, and scientists don’t always agree on the classifications of the two forms, so conflicting information can sometimes be found about the sexual and asexual forms of various fungi.
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