Entomophthoromycotina

Entomophthoromycotina is a subphylum of fungi that includes several families of largely obligate pathogens of invertebrates, especially insects, as well as some related organisms. Its members are notable for their ecological role in regulating insect populations and for distinctive reproductive strategies. Traditionally, Entomophthoromycotina was placed within the broad Zygomycota, but modern classifications often treat it as a subphylum within the phylum Zoopagomycota (or, in some schemes, within Entomophthoromycota), reflecting molecular phylogenetic results.

Most species are entomopathogenic and have life cycles that start when infective conidia or hyphal fragments contact a susceptible host. Conidia adhere to and penetrate the insect cuticle, proliferate in the body, and eventually kill the host. Infected hosts may exhibit behavioral changes that promote fungal dispersal, such as climbing to exposed positions. After host death, the fungus produces new propagules, including conidia on sporophores, to infect new hosts. Resting structures allow survival in adverse conditions. The host range tends to be narrow, often restricted to particular insect taxa; some species also infect mites or other invertebrates.

Ecologically, Entomophthoromycotina fungi are important regulators of insect communities and have been explored for biological control of pest populations. They are typically distinguished by their coenocytic hyphae, rapid external growth, and specialized infection structures. The group is subject to ongoing taxonomic revision as molecular data refine relationships among genera such as Entomophthora, Zoophthora, Conidiobolus, and Neozygites.