Zoophthora is a genus of fungi in the family Entomophthoraceae. Like other taxa in this family, Zoophthora species cause disease in insects and as such are considered entomopathogenic fungi. Like most entomopathogenic fungal taxa, Zoophthora has been studied largely in the context of biological control of insect pest species. However, recent research indicates that many fungal taxa that have historically been considered entomopathogenic (e.g., Zoophthora) may serve diverse ecological roles as free-living members of the rhizosphere, as endophytes of plant tissue, and as saprobes. History The genus Zoophthora was first formally described by Batko in 1964; however, in 1966 Batko divided Zoophthora into four sub-genera. In 1989 Humber promoted Batko's four sub-genera to a single genus: Zoophthora. Recent systematic research has yielded support for the monophyly of Zoophthora, as well as its distinctness at the generic level. Life cycle Zoophthora species parasitize insects, using their host's body as a source of nutrition and as a site for reproduction. In order to infect a potential insect host, fungal tissue (generally as uninucleate or coenocytic hypha) must first penetrate the insect's cuticle. Upon entering an insect's body, some Zoophthora species are able to lose their cell walls and exist as protoplasts; this phenomenon is common in many taxa in the Entomophthorales, and is believed to help the fungus evade its host's immune responses. Asexual reproduction in Zoophthora occurs through the production and forceful discharge of primary conidia. Once these conidia contact a suitable substrate, they can then either germinate into vegetative tissue (i.e., mycelium) or develop secondary conidia. Sexual reproduction in this taxon generally occurs through the conjugation of two gametangia, which results in the production of a thick-walled zygosporangium. As in other Zygomycete fungi, the zygosporangia of Zoophthora serve as the site where zygospores mature and germinate into vegetative tissue. Ecology Interactions with Arthropods Perhaps the most studied aspect of Zoophthora species’ ecology pertains to their interactions with arthropods. Zoophthora species are parasites that digest their hosts’ tissues for nutrition. Fungi in this taxon also use the host's body as a substrate on which to reproduce. During this process of infection, digestion, and reproduction, the host is generally killed and as such these interactions between fungus and insect are best described as antagonistic. Because research on Zoophthora has historically been in the context of biological control of insect pests, the relative contributions of species in this genus to ecosystem functioning have