Summary: | <i>Cordyceps fumosorosea</i>, an insect pathogenic fungus, produces different toxins/secondary metabolites which can act as pest control agents. This study reports the extraction and characterization of crude mycelial extracts of <i>C. fumosorosea</i> isolate SP502 along with their bio-efficacy against <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> and <i>Aphis craccivora</i>. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometery and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of <i>C. fumosorosea</i> isolate SP502 extracts showed the presence of five major compounds—Trichodermin, 5-Methylmellein, Brevianamide F, Enniatin and Beauvericin—which all may potentially be involved in insecticidal activity. The HPLC analysis of <i>C. fumosorosea</i> mycelial extracts and Beauvericin standard showed similar chromatographic peaks, with the content of Beauvericin in the crude toxin being calculated as 0.66 mg/ml. The median lethal concentrations of <i>C. fumosorosea</i> mycelial extracts towards first, second, third and fourth instar nymphs of <i>A. craccivora</i> were 46.35, 54.55, 68.94, and 81.92 µg/mL, respectively. The median lethal concentrations of <i>C. fumosorosea</i> mycelial extracts towards first, second, third and fourth instar nymphs of <i>B. tabaci</i> were 62.67, 72.84, 77.40, and 94.40 µg/mL, respectively. Our results demonstrate that bioactive compounds produced by <i>C. fumosorosea</i> isolate SP502 have insecticidal properties and could, therefore, be developed into biopesticides for the management of <i>B. tabaci</i> and <i>A. craccivora</i>.
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