MUSCARDINE Meaning and
Definition
-
Muscardine is a term used in the field of entomology to describe a fatal fungal disease that affects certain insects, especially the silkworms and other related moth larvae. The condition is caused by a species of fungus called Beauveria bassiana, which belongs to the order Hypocreales. This filamentous fungus is commonly found in soil and can also infect other arthropods, including insects such as aphids and beetles.
When a silkworm or another susceptible insect becomes infected with muscardine, it experiences a rapid deterioration of its health. The fungus invades the body of the insect through the cuticle, growing internally and eventually causing the death of the host. Infected individuals typically display characteristic symptoms, such as a white powdery appearance on their exterior due to the growth of fungal spores.
Muscardine is economically significant as it can devastate silkworm populations and disrupt sericulture, the process of cultivating silkworms for silk production. To mitigate the spread of muscardine, preventative measures such as maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity levels in silkworm rearing environments, as well as practicing good hygiene, are usually employed. Additionally, this fungal disease has attracted scientific interest due to its potential applications as a biocontrol agent against insect pests, as Beauveria bassiana is known for its insecticidal properties.
-
A disease affecting silk-worms, and very destructive to them; the fungus by which it is caused.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for MUSCARDINE
- muscadine
- muscatine
- muscardines
- muscardin
- nuscardine
- kuscardine
- juscardine
- myscardine
- mhscardine
- mjscardine
- miscardine
- m8scardine
- m7scardine
- muacardine
- muzcardine
- muxcardine
- mudcardine
- muecardine
- muwcardine
- musxardine
Etymology of MUSCARDINE
The word "muscardine" has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Latin term "musca" meaning "fly" and the suffix "-dine" which denotes a disease or affliction.
In the late 18th century, the French naturalist Charles-Etienne Brisseau de Mirbel discovered a fungal disease affecting silkworms in France. This disease was characterized by the appearance of black spots on the infected silkworms' bodies, similar to fly droppings, hence the association with the word "musca" meaning fly. Mirbel named this disease "muscardine" due to its resemblance to fly-infested silkworms.
The term "muscardine" became widely used in the context of silkworm diseases, specifically referring to fungal infections caused primarily by the Beauveria bassiana fungus.
