Ecology & Biology

·

Review

Insect-Killing Fungi Offer Greener Pest Control

Insect-Killing Fungi Offer Greener Pest Control

What they found

A review says insect-killing fungi, combined with other methods, reached up to 99% mortality in fall armyworm larvae.

A review says insect-killing fungi, combined with other methods, reached up to 99% mortality in fall armyworm larvae.

The number

up to 99% mortality in fall armyworm larvae

How solid is it?

Review

Review

Narrative review

Narrative review

Evidence ladder: Lab dish → Animal → Early human → Strong human. Reviews summarize earlier research.

At a glance

Latin name

Published in

Biological Control

Biological Control

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Fungal Pest Control

Fungal Pest Control

Entomopathogenic fungi infect insects through their outer body or digestive tract, then use enzymes and toxins to kill pests with less environmental damage than conventional chemical pesticides. New approaches pair these fungi with botanicals, natural enemies, nanotechnology, and improved formulations, with some combinations reaching up to 99% mortality in fall armyworm larvae under semi-field conditions. The big practical win is lower pesticide dependence, but field stability, cost, storage, and farmer adoption still limit widespread use.

Entomopathogenic fungi infect insects through their outer body or digestive tract, then use enzymes and toxins to kill pests with less environmental damage than conventional chemical pesticides. New approaches pair these fungi with botanicals, natural enemies, nanotechnology, and improved formulations, with some combinations reaching up to 99% mortality in fall armyworm larvae under semi-field conditions. The big practical win is lower pesticide dependence, but field stability, cost, storage, and farmer adoption still limit widespread use.

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