Fungi from the native mycobiota of <i>Nasutitermes corniger</i> (Blattodea: Termitidae) including <i>Fusarium termitarium</i> sp. nov. ( <i>Fusarium fujikuroi</i> species complex) and its pathogenicity to this host

Abstract A total of 11 fungal isolates were obtained from the native mycobiota of Nasutitermes corniger and identified to species level. Six isolates were identified as species of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC), namely F. sacchari (3), F. verticillioides (1), F. musae (1) and Fusarium termitarium sp. nov. (1). The latter is described here as a new species. Two isolates were identified as Paecilomyces formosus , and three as Purpureocillium sodanum . The viability of the isolates was assessed and their pathogenicity tested against N. corniger at a concentration of 1 × 10 7 conidia/mL. All the isolates showed viability above 90.00%. Under the conditions tested, the fungi showed moderate pathogenicity. The mortality observed for the Fusarium isolates ranged from 25.56% to 38.33%. The other isolates had mortality rates ranging from 23.33% to 33.33%. Studies such as ours allow the identification of new taxonomic findings and contribute with information on ecology and biological control of arboricolous termites.