genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
fungi
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
in the family
Laboulbeniaceae
The Laboulbeniaceae are a family of fungi in the order Laboulbeniales. Taxa have a widespread distribution, and are parasitic to various orders of insects
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insect ...
.
The genus name of ''Laboulbenia'' is in honour of Joseph Alexandre Laboulbène (1825–1898), who was a French
physician
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
and
entomologist
Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...
.
The genus was
circumscribed
In geometry, the circumscribed circle or circumcircle of a polygon is a circle that passes through all the vertices of the polygon. The center of this circle is called the circumcenter and its radius is called the circumradius.
Not every polyg ...
by
Jean Pierre François Camille Montagne
Jean Pierre François Camille Montagne (15 February 1784 – 5 December 1866) was a French military physician and botanist who specialized in the fields of bryology and mycology. He was born in the commune of Vaudoy in the department of Seine-et-M ...
and Charles Philippe Robin in C.P. Robin 'Histoire naturelle des Végétaux Parasites' (Paris) on page 622 in 1853.
Being ectoparasitic on a diverse assemblage of arthropods, the majority in insects, specially beetles and flies,Rossi, W. & Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. 2011. A new species of ''Laboulbenia'' (Ascomycota) parasitic on an African fly (Diptera: Curtonotidae), with a brief review of Diptera-associated species of the genus. ''
African Invertebrates
''African Invertebrates'' is a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal that covers the taxonomy, systematics, biogeography, ecology, conservation, and palaeontology of Afrotropical invertebrates, whether terrestrial, freshwater, or marine. I ...
'' 52 (1): 211-216. and a few arachnids (mites) and millipedes, members of this genus show a rather high level of host specificity. They cause little, if any, damage to their hosts.
The genus contains around 600 species.