Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control

Entomopathogenic microorganisms are bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens that naturally infect and kill insects, and researchers are studying how to harness them as alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides. Fungi such as *Metarhizium anisopliae* and *Beauveria bassiana* have attracted particular attention because they can invade host insects through direct contact with the cuticle, making them effective against a wide range of pest species without requiring ingestion. Advances in genomic sequencing are clarifying how these organisms locate, infect, and overcome insect immune defenses, while work on endophytic colonization—where the fungi live inside crop plants—suggests they may protect against pests through multiple mechanisms simultaneously. Key open questions include how to reliably scale up production and field application, and how to assess long-term ecological effects on non-target insect populations, including beneficial species like pollinators.

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Keywords

Entomopathogenic FungiBiological ControlInsect PathogensBiopesticidesMetarhiziumBeauveria bassiana