<![CDATA[The effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in suppressing insect pests is strongly influenced by environmental conditions, particularly light exposure and relative humidity. This study evaluated the effects of ambient light and relative humidity on the pathogenicity and infection dynamics of Simplicillium lanosoniveum against Spodoptera frugiperdalarvae. A completely randomized design factorial 2 x 2 was used, with light exposure (ambient light under open and dark under enclosed conditions) and relative humidity (45% RH and 80% RH) factors. Second–third instar larvae were inoculated with EPF, and each treatment included 25 individually reared larvae, arranged into five biological replicates of five larvae each, with each larva maintained in a separate. Larval mortality was recorded daily for 10 days and analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM) with a binomial distribution. Ambient light exposure, relative humidity, and their interaction had no statistically significant effects on larval mortality (p > 0.05). Goodness-of-fit statistics indicated that the model adequately fit the data, with deviance and Pearson chi-square values close to unity. Numerically, the highest mortality (92%) and the shortest median lethal time (LT₅₀ = 6.4 days) were observed under dark conditions at 80% RH, whereas the lowest mortality (72%) and the longest LT₅₀ (8.3 days) occurred under ambient light at 45% RH Although the observed numerical pattern suggested a tendency toward faster infection under higher humidity, it was not statistically significant. Overall, S. lanosoniveum maintained relatively stable pathogenicity across the tested environmental conditions, indicating its potential for development as a biological control agent against S. frugiperda.]]>
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