Entomopathogen Biodiversity of Kastamonu Region

Abstract

Microorganisms infecting insects are known as entomopathogen. This group includes viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi and nematodes. They are found in nature and commonly isolated from soil and host insects.  They cause desirable (in plant pests and parasitic insects) and undesirable infections (in useful insects such as silkworms, bees, predators) in insects. Kastamonu region has a special ecosystem with the large forests and mountains. Type of the ecosystem is the main factor effecting entomopathogenic biodiversity in that region. Till now, several entomopathogenic organisms such as nematodes, microsporidia and fungi which cause desirable and undesirable infections in insects have been isolated from host insects collected in Kastamonu region. In this paper, recent situation of entomopathogen biodiversity of Kastamonu region is discussed.