Metarhizium flavoviride is the name given to a group of fungal isolates

Genetic isolate

A genetic isolate is population of organisms that has little genetic mixing with other organisms within the same species. This may result in speciation, but this is not necessarily the case...

 that are known to be virulent against Hemiptera

Hemiptera

Hemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs , comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others...

 and some Coleoptera. Spores (conidia) are light grey-green and oval-shaped (approximately 7-11 µm long).

As with other Metarhizium

Metarhizium

Metarhizium is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae family. With the advent of genetic profiling, it has now become possible to place these fungi in proper taxa. Most turn out to be the asexual forms of fungi in the phylum Ascomycota.- Species :Nine distinct species have now...

species, there has been interest in developing isolates into mycoinsecticides: with work carried out on rice

Rice

Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...

 insect pests during the 1970-80s. However, such isolates appear to be more difficult to mass produce, so there has been less commercial activity than with other Metarhizium species. In light of new molecular techniques, we now know that references to this species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 for control of locust

Locust

Locusts are the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. These are species that can breed rapidly under suitable conditions and subsequently become gregarious and migratory...

s (e.g. in early LUBILOSA

LUBILOSA

LUBILOSA was the name of a research programme that aimed at developing a biological alternative to the chemical control of locusts. This name is an acronym of the French title of the programme: Lutte Biologique contre les Locustes et les Sauteriaux...

 Programme literature) should apply to Metarhizium acridum

Metarhizium acridum

Metarhizium acridum is the new name given to a group of fungal isolates that are known to be virulent and specific to Acrididea. Previously, this species has had variety status in Metarhizium anisopliae and before that, reference was made to M. flavoviride.- Biology :M...

.