Beauveria bassiana, commonly known as the white muscardine fungus, is a naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungus with one of the broadest host ranges among imperfect fungi. It primarily infects caterpillars of the order Lepidoptera, but also targets insects from Hemiptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, and Thysanoptera. While it often affects the immature stages of insects, adult stages can also be infected. Although pupal infections are rare, eggs may succumb to fungal attack to a certain extent.
The spores of B. bassiana are compatible with several common insecticides and are known to produce a variety of insecticidal toxins. It has shown promising results in controlling pests like the coffee berry borer and various species of leaf-eating insects, making it an effective tool in integrated pest management.
