Hountondji, F.C.C., Yaninek, J.S., De Moraes, G.J., & Oduor, G.I. 2002 Host specificity of the cassava green mite pathogen Neozygites floridana.. Biocontrol Dordecht 47(1): 61-66.

Notes: Tests were conducted on the host specificity of a Brazilian isolate of the fungus Neozygites floridana, a potential biological control agent for the cassava green mite, Mononychellus tanajoa, in Africa. Five insect and two mite species, mostly from the cassava agroecosystem, were evaluated for susceptibility to N. floridana, including Phenacoccus herreni. Individuals of each species were exposed to capilliconidia (the infective stage of the fungus). None of the tested individuals was found with hyphal bodies (the vegetative stage of the fungus), whereas 73 to 94% of the cassava green mites in the controls became infected. However, non-germinated capilliconidia were found attached to several individuals in most species. N. floridana appears to be safe for exportation. Further evaluation of its performance against M. tanajoa in Africa is therefore desirable.