Climate change profoundly affects agricultural insect pests by altering their biology, distribution, and interactions within agroecosystems, threatening global food security. Rising temperatures, elevated atmospheric CO₂, and shifting precipitation patterns accelerate pest development, expand geographic ranges, and increase voltinism, intensifying crop damage. These shifts disrupt traditional pest management frameworks, as phenological mismatches among pests, host plants, and natural enemies weaken biological control. Moreover, abiotic stresses compromise the performance of biocontrol agents, such as entomopathogenic fungi, necessitating climate-specific strain selection. Adaptive integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that incorporate real-time monitoring, predictive modeling, precision agriculture technologies, and emerging tools such as CRISPR and sterile insect techniques are essential for climate-resilient agriculture. Sustainable approaches that leverage natural products and minimize reliance on chemical pesticides further support ecosystem health. This review synthesizes current knowledge on climate-driven pest dynamics, range expansions, and tritrophic disruptions based on literature searched in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar from January 2000 to November 2025 using Boolean strings. This review proposes a comprehensive climate-adaptive IPM framework to safeguard agricultural productivity amid ongoing environmental change.

Phenotypic and pathogenicity changes in Beauveria and Metarhizium isolates induced by serial subculturing and passage through different host species.

MaNrg1, a transcriptional regulator, negatively regulates the UV-B tolerance and governs the microcycle conidiation in Metarhizium acridum.

In vitro compatibility of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Balsam) with insecticides and fungicides

Behavioral response of the tick Rhipicephalus linnaei to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae.

<p>The effect of seed treatment and foliar application with two endophytic entomopathogenic fungi, namely <em>Beauveria bassiana</em> and <em>Purpureocillium lilacinum</em> (<em>Paecilomyces lilacinus),</em> was evaluated against early blight disease under field conditions. Two different conidial concentrations (1×10<sup>8</sup> and 1×10<sup>9 </sup>conidia mL<sup>-1</sup>) were used for seed treatment and foliar application, and their effect was evaluated by disease severity, disease incidence. Their effects were also investigated on plant growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry plant weight, root-shoot fresh and dry weight). Experiments were conducted in two consecutive years with a factorial design setup. Both entomopathogenic fungi significantly decreased disease severity and percent disease incidence under field conditions. Seed treatment significantly decreased disease severity and percent disease incidence as compared to foliar application. Among treatments, <em>B. bassiana</em> showed the lowest disease severity and percent disease incidence as compared to <em>P. lilacinum</em>. A significant increase in plant height, leaves number, fresh and dry plant weight, and root-shoot weight was also observed at higher concentrations of <em>B. bassiana</em> when applied as a seed treatment. Our results also provide the first report on the antifungal effect of <em>P. lilacinum</em> against <em>A. solani </em>under field conditions for the sustainable management of early blight of tomatoes.</p>

An infection event of the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) has been described, for the first time, in northwest Italy. The causative agents were two entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Entomophthorales, specifically Zoophthora radicans and, more rarely, Batkoa major. The morphological description and molecular identification of fungi have been reported, in addition to recording meteorological data that may have affected the outbreak of the infection. When massive events are ongoing, entomopathogenic fungi really behave as determinant regulators of natural populations of arthropod pests and the possibility to stress their action in this direction should be deeply investigated.

Entomopathogenic fungi are a diverse group of ascomycetes that infect insects and form fruiting bodies, with over 1,000 species reported globally. Among them, Cordyceps militaris has long been valued in East Asia as a traditional medicinal resource, reflecting its recognized pharmacological potential. However, the molecular basis of host recognition and infection in this species remains poorly understood. Our previous work identified a novel chitin-binding lectin, CmLec4, in C. militaris, and functional studies revealed that this protein delays host pupal emergence and that disruption of the cmlec4 gene reduces fruiting body formation, suggesting a crucial role of CmLec4 in infection and development. To clarify the molecular functions of cmlec4 throughout its life cycle, we performed transcriptomic analyses using cmlec4 knockout strains. Phenotypic evaluation showed that the mutants exhibited lower infection efficiency than the wild-type. RNA-Seq profiling revealed significant transcriptional changes during both early infection and fruiting body formation stages, including altered expression of genes encoding LysM domain-containing proteins, chitinases, and glucosidases-key factors in fungal adhesion, host cell wall degradation, and nutrient acquisition. Additionally, downregulation of tyrosine metabolism-related enzymes implied that CmLec4 may also influence secondary metabolism associated with virulence. Collectively, these findings indicate that CmLec4 functions as a multifunctional lectin, coordinating host recognition, metabolic regulation, and pathogenic development in C. militaris. While the biological functions of lectins have long been overlooked, this study provides a deeper understanding of how they contribute to infection and development in entomopathogenic fungi.

The fall aِrmyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), causes significant yield losses due to its high fecundity, broad host range, defoliation capability, and voracious larval feeding. Biological control using microorganisms has gained attention as a sustainable alternative to chemical pest management. Entomopathogenic fungi employ distinct modes of action and produce secondary metabolites with insecticidal properties. This study aimed to isolate and identify indigenous entomopathogenic fungal species and evaluate their pathogenicity against S. frugiperda. Three isolates belonging to the division Ascomycota were recovered from soil samples and identified as Botryotrichum domesticum isolate MP3H-5, Albifimbria verrucaria isolate E16, and Purpureocillium lilacinum isolate WARSO2 6 8. When applied at a concentration of 1 × 109 conidia mL⁻1, the fungal isolates induced significant cumulative mortality (60 to 84.44%) in S. frugiperda larvae at 14days post-treatment. Albifimbria verrucaria was the most virulent, exhibiting the lowest LC50 (2 × 107 conidia mL⁻1)and LT50 (0.46days). At a lower concentration of 1 × 107 conidia mL⁻1, the P. lilacinum isolate caused the highest pupal mortality (80%) at 7days post-treatment. Crude fungal metabolites also demonstrated larvicidal activity, resulting in cumulative mortality rates of up to 50%. Furthermore, larvae treated with the entomopathogenic fungi showed elevated catalase activity. The high toxicity observed is likely associated with fungal secondary metabolites, which were characterized using GC-MS analysis. Under laboratory conditions, the tested entomopathogenic fungal isolates demonstrated strong potential as microbial agents for the control of S. frugiperda. However, further field-based validation is necessary to confirm their efficacy.

ABSTRACT The Sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps) is a major economic threat to wheat production in Iran and across Central and West Asia. In this study, entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from cadavers of E. integriceps collected from overwintering sites and wheat fields in Ardabil Province (Dasht-e Moghan). Twelve fungal isolates were recovered and identified morphologically as belonging to the genus Aspergillus. A representative isolate (CCTU AS1) underwent detailed morphological and molecular characterisation. Based on β-tubulin (BenA) gene sequencing and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, the isolate was identified as Aspergillus alliaceus, a species not previously reported as an insect pathogen. Pathogenicity tests using two isolates (CCTU AS1 and CCTU AS2) against summer generation adults of E. integriceps under in vitro conditions demonstrated 80% mortality within 15 days, while no mortality occurred in the control group. Post-mortem examinations confirmed fungal colonisation and the development of sclerotia on insect cadavers. The ability to produce sclerotia suggests potential for long-term persistence in overwintering habitats, indicating suitability for field-level biocontrol applications. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. alliaceus as an entomopathogenic fungus isolated from E. integriceps. These findings highlight the potential of A. alliaceus as a candidate for integrated pest management strategies in wheat production systems.

Metarhizium anisopliae is an entomopathogenic fungus that is widely used in the biological control of agricultural pests. During host infection, M. anisopliae secretes an arsenal of hydrolytic enzymes such as proteases and chitinases that allow for cuticle penetration and host colonization. The degradation of chitin into N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) monomers is carried out by chitinases and β-N-acetylglucosaminidases (NAGases). Chitin-degrading enzymes of M. anisopliae have been the subject of extensive research; however, these studies have not been consolidated into a comprehensive review. This review highlights our current knowledge of the chitinolytic enzymes from M. anisopliae, emphasizing the classification of these enzymes based on their mode of action and domain architecture. M. anisopliae possesses a set of 21 chitinases that are classified into four glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18) subgroups: A, B, C, and D. In addition, M. anisopliae produces two GH20 and two GH3 NAGases. The domain architectures of chitinases and NAGases from M. anisopliae are highly similar to those found in Trichoderma spp. but exhibit some evolutionary distinctions. Moreover, this review integrates insights from other entomopathogenic fungi to identify molecular mechanisms underlying the expression of chitinase and NAGase genes in M. anisopliae. The regulatory mechanisms underlying gene expression of chitinolytic enzymes are complex and involve several regulators and metabolic pathways. Finally, chitinases have the potential to be used as biopesticides against fungal pathogens and pest infestations.

Entomopathogens constitute a unique and specialized trophic group of fungi, most of which belong to Hypocreales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota). In this study, eight species were collected and isolated from China and Thailand. Through comprehensive morphological analyses and multigene phylogenetic studies (ITS, nrSSU, nrLSU, tef1-α, rpb1, rpb2), seven novel species (Ophiocordyceps jinguangensis sp. nov., O. northeastensis sp. nov., Polycephalomyces bannaensis sp. nov., Po. chiangraiensis sp. nov., Pleurocordyceps shibingensis sp. nov., Pl. tengchongensis sp. nov., and Dingleyomyces yunnanensis sp. nov.) and one known species (O. formicarum) were identified. Additionally, the pairwise homoplasy index (PHI) test results and morphological differences between the new species and their closely related taxa are provided. Notably, as the number of reported hirsutella-like species continues to increase, their phylogenetic placement has become increasingly unclear in previous classifications. To address this issue, this paper presents the first comprehensive summary of the distribution of hirsutella-like species within the families Ophiocordycipitaceae and Polycephalomycetaceae, along with an analysis of the similarities and differences in their phialidic characteristics. These findings significantly expand our knowledge of the diversity, taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships of entomopathogenic fungi in these families, providing a valuable framework for future studies on their ecology and evolution.

This study is designed to demonstrate the divergent siderophore production among the strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and enhance the siderophore production by overexpression of the biosynthesis-related genes. Chrome azurol S (CAS) assay indicated B. bassiana strains displayed divergent abilities to produce siderophores under the iron-limited conditions. A strain (Bb3153) did not produce enough siderophores detected by CAS assay and was considered as a non-siderophore-producing strain. Comparative transcriptomic analysis was conducted between the strains Bb3153 and Bb2860 (a siderophore-producing strain). The results indicated the significant difference in global expression between these two strains, in which the siderophore synthesis gene sidL, encoding N5-hydroxyornithine acetylase, were significantly repressed in the strain Bb3153 when compared with the strain Bb2860. A recombinant strain (Bb3153OE) was constructed by overexpressing sidL in Bb3153. CAS assay indicated that Bb3153OE produced siderophores ahead of its parent strain. Mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the production of dimerumic acid was significantly increased. Phenotypic assays indicated the recombinant strain displayed the enhanced growth and virulence. This study highlights the genetic plasticity of siderophore biosynthesis in the filamentous entomopathogenic fungi, which serves as a promising strategy to enhance their biocontrol efficacy.

Combined effects of entomopathogenic fungus and plant volatile compound on Asian corn borer, consequently for corn yield

Sustainable agriculture requires the development of biological control technologies. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are important resources of microbial control agents, yet their diversity in soil with various habitats remains poorly understood. In this study, we systematically investigated the EPF diversity in soils of eastern China. A total of 455 strains of 42 EPF species belonging to 18 genera were isolated and identified from 540 soil samples collected from 108 sites representing five habitats (crop, orchard, forest, fallow, and grasslands) in Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanghai, and Zhejiang regions. Habitats had a greater influence on EPF diversity than regions. Overall, EPF diversity in natural habitats (forests and grasslands) was slightly higher than in agricultural habitats (crops, orchards, and fallow lands), particularly in terms of species richness. Among agricultural habitats, orchard had the highest evenness and relatively low species richness, while fallow land showed the lowest diversity, which may be related to management intensity or vegetation cover. Furthermore, the results also demonstrated the similarity of the EPF community structures among different habitats or regions; Purpureocillium lilacinum was the dominant species, while Penicillium citrinum and Metarhizium anisopliae were the minor dominant species in all habitats. In contrast, Metarhizium robertsii, Penicillium janthinellum, Marquandomyces marquandii, and Trichoderma spirale exhibited variable dominance depending on the habitat. This research provides new insights to understand the fungal diversity.IMPORTANCEWe recognized a total of 455 strains of 42 entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) species in 18 genera, including 7 putative new species with substantial insecticidal activity, which have potential for application as biological control agents. The discovery will enhance the understanding that agricultural activity interferes with the EPF distribution. Furthermore, the results highlight the conservation and application of EPF.

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the major pests infesting squash (Cucurbita spp.). The present study examined the interactions between combined applications of 2 insecticides, imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole, with 2 entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), Beauveria bassiana (GHA strain) and Cordyceps javanica (wfGA17 strain), across 8 squash cultivars infested with B. tabaci. The insecticides were tested for compatibility with EPF at three concentrations using in vitro bioassays. A compatible rate based on the survival of the EPF was subsequently selected for evaluating the lethality against B. tabaci. The combined application of EPF and either of the insecticides resulted in higher B. tabaci nymphal mortality than when either agent was applied alone. Although some reduction in fungal viability was observed, some combinations still produced enhanced efficacy, particularly with imidacloprid. Among all treatments, the combinations involving imidacloprid yielded the highest percentage mortality. The nature of EPF-chemical interactions (synergy, additivity, or antagonism) varied by cultivar. Additive interactions were consistently recorded on the cultivars Early Summer, Fortune, Gray Summer, and Green Eclipse where both EPF species showed enhanced effectiveness when combined with imidacloprid, and to a similar extent, with cyantraniliprole. However, antagonistic interactions were found when C. javanica was combined with cyantraniliprole on the cultivars, Gentry, Grey Summer, Lioness, and Respect, or B. bassiana and imidacloprid on the cultivar Golden glory. Overall, the results emphasized the potential of combining EPF with selective insecticides and the importance of cultivar-specific responses in optimizing B. tabaci control.

ABSTRACT Leafcutter ants are social insects that cultivate a symbiotic fungus and cut leaves of nearly any plant, making them major generalist pests. Entomopathogenic fungi are promising biological control agents, particularly because they are easy to propagate and can effectively infect leafcutter ants. However, virulence studies have faced challenges in keeping leafcutter ants alive long enough to evaluate the effects of entomopathogenic fungi on their survival. This study describes a method for the collection, preparation, inoculation, and maintenance of leafcutter ants in bioassays using the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill., with Atta laevigata (Smith, 1858) as a model insect. We tested six liquid diets to assess their effects on ant longevity and detailed all bioassay preparation steps and procedures. The maltose diet allowed ants in the control group treated with sterilised water + 0.1% Tween 80 to exhibit a significantly higher mean survival time than those treated with a dose of 105 conidia per insect. The use of this liquid diet in the virulence bioassay enabled precise calculation of the median lethal dose (LD50 = 9.590 × 102) and the lethal dose for 95% of the population (LD95 = 3.912 × 105), estimated on the fifth day after fungal application. The low LD50 and LD95 values underscore the high virulence of B. bassiana against A. laevigata and support their potential use in biological control programmes. The method described is cost-effective, easily replicable, and provides accurate, consistent results for evaluating the effects of entomopathogenic fungi on leafcutter ants in laboratory bioassays.

ABSTRACT Tick pest management requires innovative approaches to overcome problems caused by the excessive use of synthetic pesticides, including resistance and environmental pollution. The use of biological agents and biosynthesized nanoparticles offers a promising alternative, reducing residue concerns while effectively controlling tick populations. The current study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of locally entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Beauveria bassiana and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on camel tick, Hyalomma impeltatum. B. bassiana was isolated from soil millipede, Archispirostreptus syriacus and molecularly identified (sequence analysis of ITS1 and ITS4). The acaricidal effectiveness of B. bassiana conidial suspension (CS) or fungal filtrates (FF) along with AgNPs at four concentrations was separately and jointly evaluated against eggs, larvae, and females of H. impeltatum using immersion test. The percentage of larval hatchability was recorded 7 days post-treatment, whereas mortality of larvae and females was monitored daily for 4 days. The isolated fungus was identified as B. bassiana TU-33. All tested combinations showed synergistic effects against H. impeltatum eggs, larvae, and engorged females. Three days after exposure to a conidial suspension (1.5 × 10⁵ conidia/mL) combined with AgNPs (2 mg/L), complete mortality was observed, with LC₅₀ values of 0.20 mg/L for larvae and 0.22 mg/L for engorged females. At the highest conidial dose (1.5 × 10⁷ conidia/mL), egg hatchability decreased to 31.7%, while larval and female mortality reached 82.2% and 71.5%, respectively. All biological traits of engorged females were significantly altered, demonstrating the high efficacy of combining EPF with AgNPs for tick control.

Abstract Microbial symbionts significantly influence insect ecology, particularly in mediating host‐pathogen interactions that regulate pest population dynamics in agro‐ecosystems, such as those involving the Asian citrus psyllid ( Diaphorina citri ), a vector of Huanglongbing. This study investigates how Beauveria bassiana infection alters the cuticular microbiota of D. citri and identifies bacterial symbionts that modulate host susceptibility to the fungus. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we observed significant shifts in the diversity and composition of the cuticular bacterial community following B. bassiana infection. Two cuticle‐derived bacterial strains, Bacillus albus (CQC‐1) and Shouchella miscanthi (CQC‐32), isolated from the cuticle, exhibited potent antifungal activity, reducing B. bassiana spore germination by 94.53% and 73.50%, respectively, and increasing psyllid survival under fungal challenge to 71.3% and 65.2% compared with 16.4% in controls. These findings underscore the ecological role of cuticular symbionts in shaping host‐pathogen dynamics and suggest their potential for integration into sustainable pest management strategies for citrus agro‐ecosystems. They also clarify how cuticular bacterial communities respond to entomopathogenic fungi and influence insect‐pathogen interactions, with broader implications for microbial ecology and host‐microbe coevolution.

Entomopathogenic fungi produce chemical compounds that may provide different biological activities, and biotic and abiotic factors influence their production. This work aimed to determine the production of chemical compounds during the growth of the Beauveria bassiana GHA strain in nine different culture media. The media used were malt extract agar (MEA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), Spezieller Nahrstoffarmer agar (SNA), Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) enriched with yeast extract; yeast extract casein peptone dextrose agar (YEPDA), and potato dextrose-fungus (Agaricus bisporus) (PDF) as well as oats based medium (OBM), rice based medium (RBM), and CHEERIOS® (Whole oats, Nestlé®) based medium (CHBM). The GHA strain was incubated in each medium at 28°C for 21 days. The fungal growth was measured by biomass production, and the production of chemical compounds was evaluated through a GC-MS analysis. Results indicated significant differences in biomass production among the different culture media. The highest biomass production was observed in the SDA and OBM, while no growth was observed in the PDA, MEA, and SNA media. The GC-MS analysis detected 156 compounds, including 54 extracted with methanol, 65 with ethyl acetate, and 37 with hexane. The number of compounds varied according to the media used. These chemical compounds correspond to amines, alcohols, fatty acids, and amino acids, among many others. The nutrients available in the growth media have an essential influence on the chemical compound production by B. bassiana GHA strain.