Characterization and Toxicity of Crude Toxins Produced by against (Gennadius) and (Koch).

, 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 isolate SP502 along with their bio-efficacy against and . Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometery and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of 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 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 mycelial extracts towards first, second, third and fourth instar nymphs of were 46.35, 54.55, 68.94, and 81.92 µg/mL, respectively. The median lethal concentrations of mycelial extracts towards first, second, third and fourth instar nymphs of were 62.67, 72.84, 77.40, and 94.40 µg/mL, respectively. Our results demonstrate that bioactive compounds produced by isolate SP502 have insecticidal properties and could, therefore, be developed into biopesticides for the management of and .