What is Beauveria?
Beauveria is a fungal genus within the ascomycete or “sac fungi.” This fungus is most well known among people involved in agriculture and the farming community, where it is used as a form of natural pest control. It is also sometimes found in homes and other structures, and it can cause health problems to certain individuals, although this is extremely rare. These fungi reproduce asexually with spores, producing colonies which can mature in around a week under the right conditions. The mold has a slightly cottony texture, and it can be white, pink, or yellow, depending on the species. Because Beauveria fungi grow fairly rapidly, they can quickly colonize an area, sending hyphae into the substrate to give the fungus a firm foothold. Beauveria species are typically found in soil and plant debris, and also in infected insects. The most famous species is probably B. bassiana, a species notable for causing disease and death in insects. The fungus is classically ingested, at which point the
