Laboulbeniales
Encyclopedia
The Laboulbeniales are an order
of fungi within the class
Laboulbeniomycetes
. They are quite well known among researchers, and thus have received a colloquial name, laboulbs.
These include the obligate
insect parasites, with cellular
thalli, predisposing these fungi to certain death without an insect host.
Laboulbeniales does not have any hyphae, instead parasitising its host through a black foot
cell, which penetrates the insect tissue, allowing the fungus to access nutrients within its body.
These fungi can be some of the most host-specific parasites, even going so far as to often have a preference for sides on an insect.
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
of fungi within the class
Class (biology)
In biological classification, class is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, order, family, genus, and species, with class fitting between phylum and order...
Laboulbeniomycetes
Laboulbeniomycetes
The Laboulbeniomycetes are a unique group of fungi that are apparent external parasites of insects and other arthropods, both terrestrial and aquatic. These fungi are minute; their fruiting bodies commonly measure less than one millimeter. They live on the antennae, the mouthparts or other body...
. They are quite well known among researchers, and thus have received a colloquial name, laboulbs.
These include the obligate
Obligate
Obligate means "by necessity" and is used mainly in biology in phrases such as:* Obligate aerobe, an organism that cannot survive without oxygen* Obligate anaerobe, an organism that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen...
insect parasites, with cellular
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
thalli, predisposing these fungi to certain death without an insect host.
Laboulbeniales does not have any hyphae, instead parasitising its host through a black foot
Foot
The foot is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws...
cell, which penetrates the insect tissue, allowing the fungus to access nutrients within its body.
These fungi can be some of the most host-specific parasites, even going so far as to often have a preference for sides on an insect.