Immunological responses and gut microbial shift of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda challenged with entomopathogens

Martha W. Nderitu, Fathiya M. Khamis, Inusa J. Ajene, Steven G. Nyanjom, Komivi S. Akutse

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda is a dangerous lepidopteran pest that threatens maize production globally. Biopesticides such as entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and Bacillus thuringiensis present safer alternatives to chemical pesticides for FAW management. This study investigated the impact of Metarhizium anisopliae and B. thuringiensis on the mortality, cellular immune response, and microbiome of FAW und…