Applicability of entomopathogenic fungi and essential oils against the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a key polyphagous pest because of the damage it causes to maize crops. The entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae AUMC2605 and Beauveria bassiana AUMC3563 were evaluated to manage S. frugiperda in the lab and field. Additionally, the toxicity of essential oils from Prunus amygdalus, Linum usitatissimum, Simmondsia chinensis, and Nigella sativa were detected against larvae S. frugiperda in the field. Using the drenches technique, the tested B. bassiana AUMC3563 and M. anisopliae AUMC2605 isolates were pathogenic to S. frugiperda and caused mortality ranging from 10.0 to 80.33