Bioefficacy of entomopathogenic fungi against Spodoptera

Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) is one of the economically important polyphagous pest and cause severe damage to more than 50 crops including wide range of food, fibre, oil fodder, vegetable, horticultureal, ornamental, aromatic and medicinal plants. This is the first Lepidopteran to develop insecticide resistance in India during 1965. Development of insecticide resistance in this pest has been faster in last two decades. Misuse and excessive use of pesticides their harm to nature posed a stress on pest management practitioners to use alternative eco-friendly strategies. The entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) is a promising and extensively researched biocontrol agent that can suppress a variety of economically important insect pest and other Arthropodes like spiders and mites.