sphaericus

Sphaericus is a Latin adjectival epithet used in the scientific names of various organisms to indicate a spherical shape or appearance. It is not a formal taxon or genus by itself, but rather a descriptive term that appears across different groups in binomial nomenclature. The use of sphaericus as a species epithet reflects morphology rather than classification.

The best-known instance in modern biology is the bacterium historically named Bacillus sphaericus. In many current classifications this organism is placed in the genus Lysinibacillus, as Lysinibacillus sphaericus. Some strains of this species produce a binary toxin that is highly toxic to mosquito larvae, and the microorganism has been employed as a biological control agent in vector management programs. This mosquitocidal activity is a key reason for its prominence outside purely taxonomic discussions.

Beyond bacteria, the epithet sphaericus appears in the scientific names of other organisms simply to denote a spherical characteristic observed in the species. Because binomial names are derived from Latin or Latinized Greek, the term can arise in zoological, botanical, or microbiological contexts whenever a researcher chooses to emphasize spherical morphology.

In summary, sphaericus serves as a descriptive species epithet used across diverse taxa and is most notably associated with a bacterium formerly known as Bacillus sphaericus, now commonly referred to as Lysinibacillus sphaericus, recognized for its mosquitocidal properties.