ABSTRACT Insect pests are one of the main threats to crop production and post‐harvest storage worldwide. Abiotic factors and pathogenic microbes also cause a significant amount of harm, with estimated results of 20%–30% of yield loss or nutrient‐denatured staple agricultural products. Conventional methods for controlling insect pests commonly involve the use of pesticides and insecticides, which pose major health and environmental risks. The application of chemical pesticides has traditionally been a significant way of protecting crops against insect pests; however, recent years have seen high resistance among insects due to the extended and random application of these pesticides. Therefore, a more sustainable approach for biocontrol using entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) is safer. Insects and arthropods are susceptible to EPF, and when environmental conditions are favourable, they can cause mass mortality. Despite the various benefits that EPF have over other biological and chemical products, their use has not been fully explored. Although insect pests cause significant damage to agricultural productivity, there are natural predators of these insects, as in the case of other taxa. In addition to fungi, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms also play essential roles in controlling the number of insects. EPF can play a positive role in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems as they continue to be commercialised and used. The past few years have emphasised the development of biological control of insect pests using natural enemies, including entomopathogens. They are highly active and contribute to the stability of insect populations in natural ecosystems. EPF are a priceless part of sustainable agriculture because they reduce the need for chemical pesticides and destroy pest populations by eliminating them.
Minhans et al. (Sun,) studied this question.