On Certain Entomogenous Fungi

While it is customary to think of the entomogenous fungi as members for the most part of the groups Entomophthorales, Ascomycetes and Fungi Imperfecti, there are in literature several records in which such a habit has been attributed to certain Basidiomycetes. Among the latter may be mentioned the various species of Septobasidium and the form called Hirsutella entomophila by Patouillard. The present paper deals with certain fungi that are evidently closely related to the latter. It will be shown, however, that they should not be considered as Basidiomycetes, but rather that they should be looked upon as constituting a rather definite form genus of the Fungi Imperfecti, with which group they must apparently be associated until the perfect stages are found. The paper by Patouillard (I892) in which Hirsutella entomophila is described, although without illustrations, is otherwise quite comprehensive, and there is little doubt in the opinion of the writer that the fungus mentioned is closely allied to members of the group herein considered, and in fact it is looked upon as identical with one of them.