First Record of as an Entomopathogenic Fungus of the (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) in China.

, a significant pest of highland spring wheat, damages crops through larval boring and feeding within wheat stalks. This activity disrupts nutrient and water transport, causing severe yield reductions. To find microbial biocontrol agents targeting this pest, primary entomopathogenic microorganisms were isolated and identified from naturally infected, deceased larvae. Morphological examination and ITS-based phylogenetic analysis tentatively identified the isolate as the entomopathogenic fungus sp. (strain CF01). Third-instar larvae of were inoculated with conidial suspensions of the CF01 strain at concentrations of 1 × 10, 1 × 10, 1 × 10, and 1 × 10 spores/mL. Spore suspensions of different concentrations demonstrated pathogenicity against third-instar larvae of The optimal growth conditions for strain CF01 were identified as follows: PPDA medium, 25 °C, fructose as the carbon source, and yeast extract as the nitrogen source. Photoperiod exhibited no significant effect on either mycelial growth or sporulation. These findings indicate that the CF01 strain possesses considerable potential for the biocontrol of .