Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the fall armyworm (FAW) is a highly destructive, polyphagous pest that significantly reduces the yield of graminaceous crops including maize in tropical and subtropical regions. The widespread use of synthetic pesticides has led to resistance development, disruption of natural enemies and problems with food safety and environment, highlighting the need for biologically driven control approaches. Microbial entomopathogens such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), entomopathogenic bacteria (EPB) and entomopathogenic viruses (EPV) are crucial components of sustainable FAW management. This review presents global information on the virulence, persistence, and pathogenicity of the major microbial control agents, including Heterorhabditis , Steinernema spp., Bacillus thuringiensis , Beauveria bassiana , Metarhizium anisopliae , and Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV), in laboratory, semi-field, and field settings. Particular emphasis is given to the comparative study of infection biology, stage-specific efficacy, formulation, and delivery systems, and their performance across different agro-ecological zones. This study critically examines new information on endophytic colonization by EPF, the relative safety of microbial agents to natural enemies, and their synergistic interactions with other integrated pest management (IPM) components. Restrictions pertaining to mass production, resistance risk, abiotic stress tolerance, targeting of hidden feeding places, and marketing are thoroughly investigated, particularly in smallholder farming systems. By fusing mechanistic, ecological, and operational viewpoint, this review offers a framework for selecting and combining entomopathogens, refining formulations and application techniques, and expanding their use within IPM programs for the sustainable control of S. frugiperda .
Murugasridevi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.