<![CDATA[Tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura Fabricius is a polyphagous pest that attacks green mustard and may cause substantial yield losses. Entomopathogenic fungi, including Metarhizium anisopliae Metsch., offer an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides. This study aimed to evaluate the bioinsecticidal activity of a local isolate of M. anisopliae against third-instar S. litura larvae on green mustard under laboratory conditions. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with six suspension treatments (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g/L in distilled water) and five replications, with 10 larvae in each experimental unit. The observed variables included isolate identification, total mortality, initial time of death, LT₅₀, LC₅₀, LC₉₅, daily mortality, and behavioral and morphological changes in infected larvae. This study confirmed that the local isolate of M. anisopliae is pathogenic to S. litura larvae on green mustard, causing high larval mortality, and a shorter lethal time at higher concentrations. Although the highest mortality was recorded at 50 g/L, the 30 g/L treatment showed comparable effectiveness to higher concentrations, indicating its potential as an efficient concentration for larval control.]]>
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