University of Guilan Plant Pest Research 2538-6123 16 1 2026 05 22 Identification of entomopathogenic fungi isolated from some thrips associated with crop plants in Ilam County, west of Iran Identification of entomopathogenic fungi isolated from some thrips associated with crop plants in Ilam County, west of Iran 75 79 9641 10.22124/iprj.2026.33523.1687 FA Shima Yarivand Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran Majid Mirab-balou Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran HamidReza Pourian Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Siamak Beigi Agricultural Jihad Organization of Ilam Province, Ilam, Iran Journal Article 2026 05 13 Due to the polyphagous and omnivorous nature of thrips (Thysanoptera), the host plants attacked by these insects are very diverse, and some of them are also considered important economic pests of various crops. In order to the integrated pest management of these pests and reducing the frequency of using chemical insecticides, the use of biological agents, especially entomopathogenic fungi, can be an important and promising solution. In this regard, the initial step in utilizing these microbial control agents is to identify native species and strains. In this study, entomopathogenic fungi were isolated and identified from some thrips associated with crop plants in Ilam County during 2024-2025. In total, seven fungal species associated with thrips were isolated and identified, including Alternaria alternate (Fr.), Penicillium antarcticum Hocking & McRae, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.Criv.), Chaetomium elatum Kunze, Aspergillus niger Tiegh and Aspergillus nomius Kurtzman and Fusarium sp. Among the above isolates, the most abundant was B. bassiana. All identified species are reported for the first time as enthomopathogenic fungus associated with thrips in Iran. This initial study highlights the necessity for further research to thoroughly assess the pathogenicity of these fungi Due to the polyphagous and omnivorous nature of thrips (Thysanoptera), the host plants attacked by these insects are very diverse, and some of them are also considered important economic pests of various crops. In order to the integrated pest management of these pests and reducing the frequency of using chemical insecticides, the use of biological agents, especially entomopathogenic fungi, can be an important and promising solution. In this regard, the initial step in utilizing these microbial control agents is to identify native species and strains. In this study, entomopathogenic fungi were isolated and identified from some thrips associated with crop plants in Ilam County during 2024-2025. In total, seven fungal species associated with thrips were isolated and identified, including Alternaria alternate (Fr.), Penicillium antarcticum Hocking & McRae, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.Criv.), Chaetomium elatum Kunze, Aspergillus niger Tiegh and Aspergillus nomius Kurtzman and Fusarium sp. Among the above isolates, the most abundant was B. bassiana. All identified species are reported for the first time as enthomopathogenic fungus associated with thrips in Iran. This initial study highlights the necessity for further research to thoroughly assess the pathogenicity of these fungi

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