In: Sydowia 79, (2027): 139-145; ISSN 0082-0598, DOI 10.12905/0380.sydowia79-2027-0139, Published online on July 30th, 2026

Pandora blissi, the forgotten entomophthoralean pathogen of chinch bugs (Blissus leucopterus)

Ann E. Hajek, Siegfried Keller & Kathie T. Hodge

1 Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
2 Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046 Zurich, Switzerland
3 School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
* e-mail: aeh4@cornell.edu

Hajek A.E., Keller S. & Hodge K.T. (2026) Pandora blissi, the forgotten entomophthoralean pathogen of chinch bugs (Blissusleucopterus). – Sydowia 79: 139–145.

The species Pandora blissi Hajek & Hodge (Entomophthorales) is described, and a holotype designated. The chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus (Say) (Hemiptera: Blissidae) is the only known host of this insect pathogen. This fungus was first partially described from Iowa in 1888 but the description was incomplete and types were not designated. At that time, cereal crops were widely grown in the midwestern US and this native bug frequently reached outbreak densities, with resulting epizootics caused by P. blissi and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. that were triggered by wet weather. In the late 1800s, P. blissi was reported or collected from numerous midwestern states as well as Maine, in the northeast. Pandora blissi differs from other species in the genus Pandora by its host and by forming dark, spinose resting spores that differ from the resting spores of other Pandora species infecting Heteroptera. The name for Pandora virescens is now validated, after this species was moved from Furia.

Keywords: Entomophthorales, insect pathogen, Pandora, Blissidae, Hemiptera. – 1 new species, 1 validation.