Use of hyphomycetous fungi for managing insect pests.

Abstract

An overview of is presented of the major factors (pathogen, insect host and environment) influencing the efficacy of hypomycetous fungi for biological control. Examples are given of the successful use of entomopathogenic Hypomycetes (including Aschersonia spp., Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Metarhizium anisopliae, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Verticillium lecanii) in pest control, emphasizing some of the strategies that can be used to optimize their impact on pest populations.