Septobasidium

Septobasidium is a genus of Basidiomycota fungi. Septobasidium species are known as Entomopathogens. This fungi is fairly unique for having a mutualistic relationship with an insect host rather than killing it outright. Although it weakens the members of the colony it parasitizes, it does not kill them and it benefits the colony as a whole, helping provide protection from wasps by growing an 'insect house' for them to hide in. The fungi benefits from the relationship from the nutrients the insect takes from the host plant with its piercing mouth parts, which the fungus cannot get at directly without the scale insect's help.