Biotechnology

Propagule

Entomopathogenic fungi

Agronomy

Biology

Toxicology

Pest control

Botany

Biological pest control

Beauveria bassiana

Agriculture

Metarhizium

PEST analysis

Metarhizium anisopliae

Integrated pest management

Pesticide

Ecology

Beauveria

Beneficial insects

Agroforestry

Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

Insect pest management has been dominated by the use of synthetic pesticides since its discovery. This has continued for decades until the publication of Rachel Carson’s ‘Silent spring’ in 1962, which awaken the world on dangers pose by the synthetic chemicals. Since then, the search for alternative pest control products, which is safe and effective, has been prioritized. This review was aimed at bringing to the fore the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) commercially available and the prospect of using them as an alternative to synthetic chemicals. It was reported that, more than 171 mycoinseticides have been produced with at least 12 species from the over 800 fungi species identified as pathogenic to insects. Most of these products were developed based on Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosoroseus propagules. They are currently available in countries of North and South America, Europe and Asia, with few in Africa and Middle East. Mycoinsecticdes have been found effective in controlling ins...

A review on the use of entomopathogenic fungi in the management of insect pests of field crops