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White muscardine fungus
Beauveria bassiana is a soil fungus that infects and kills a very wide range of insects, causing white muscardine disease, and is the type species of Beauveria. It was discovered in diseased silkworms by Agostino Bassi, after whom it is named. It is used worldwide as a biological insecticide. Against mushroom flies it kills adults that land on treated surfaces but does not control larvae in compost.
Not edible; a microscopic insect-pathogenic mould. It rarely infects humans (one case in an immunosuppressed person) and is generally considered safe as an insecticide, but its spores may worsen breathing difficulties.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
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