Abstract:
The entomopathogenic fungi is a fungal group that live as pathogens in the insects body. These fungi infect the insects by entering into the insect body as their host through the cuticle, gastrointestinal tract, and spiracles. The fungi are also capable to infect almost all Ordo of insects. The diversity of this fungal group in Indonesia is not well known, especially in the forest area of Mandiangin Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan. This study was aimed to explore and characterize the members of entomopathogenic fungi in Mandiangin forest. Samples were of infected insects collected six times in May-July 2017. The samples include infected insect that easily recognized by the macroscopic morphological features such as stroma and synnema. The entomopahtogenic fungi were identified morphologically based on macro- and microscopic characters. Four genera of entomopathogenic fungi were obtained from the Mandiangin forest of Banjarbaru, namely, Ophiocordyceps, Hypocrella, Cordyceps, and Aschersonia