Characteristics

Distribution
Worldwide.
Approx. 4-5 species.

Where Found
Soil, plant debris, dung.
Parasite of insects.

Mode of Dissemination
Dry spore.
Wind.

Growth Indoors
Infrequent.

Industrial Uses
None known.

Other Comments
Pathogen of silk worms and other insects.
Closely related to Tritirachium, Acrodontium, and Engyodontium.

Potential Health Effects

Allergens
Type I allergies (hay fever, asthma).

Potential Opportunist or Pathogen
Rare isolations from corneal lesions, and lungs from an immunocompromised patient.

Potential Toxin Production
Not known.

Laboratory Notes

Growth/Culture Characterisics
Grows on all general fungal media, forming small, mounded, delicate colonies.

Spore Trap Recognition
Not distinctive. Small one-celled, colorless spores. May be counted as Penicillium/Aspergillus, or "other colorless." Due to their small delicate nature, they may be missed.

Tape Lift Recognition
Occasionally found on tape lifts. Optical resolution through tape is sometimes inadequate to identify the delicate structures of Beauveria