Lecanicillium lecanii

Lecanicillium lecanii is now an approved name of an entomopathogenic fungus species, that was previously widely known as "Verticillium lecanii" (Zimmerman) Viegas), but is now understood to be an anamorphic form in the "Cordyceps" group of genera in the Clavicipitaceae. Isolates formerly classified as "V. lecanii" could be "L. attenuatum, L. lecanii, L. longisporum, L. muscarium" or "L. nodulosum". For example, several recent papers, such as Kouvelis "et al." who carried out mitochondrial DNA studies, refer to the name "L. muscarium".
"L. lecanii" itself appears primarily to be a pathogen of soft scale insects (Coccidae).
Synonyms.
The Index Fungorum, referring to "L. lecanii", lists the following synonymy:
Role in Horticulture.
This fungus was first described in 1861 and has a worldwide distribution. Insects are infected when they come into contact with the sticky fungal spores which then grow and invade the body, thus the internal organs are consumed, leading to their death. In horticulture and agriculture, "V. lecanii" isolates were developed for controlling insect pests such as whitefly, thrips and aphids, by RA Hall and HD Burges (scientists at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute, now Warwick HRI: formerly part of Horticulture Research International). Biological pesticides based on "Lecanicillium" spp. are now marketed as 'Mycotal' (now "L. muscarium") and 'Vertalec' (now "L. longisporum") by Koppert in the Netherlands (who provide good illustrations of the fungus). Other products based on these fungi have been developed elsewhere for use in cash crops, oil seeds, soybeans, ornamentals and vegetables.