## 4 Discussion
It is known that melanin and its precursors have fungistatic properties [65] and inhibit microbial proteases and chitinases [64]. As mentioned before, research about the entomopathogenic _Fusarium_ species has been neglected, in contrast to the phytopathogenic species. As chemical insecticides are becoming obsolete, alternative methods should be investigated thoroughly; even fungal species that were once considered a threat to cultivations could prove to be more than helpful on pest management. In 2015, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [66] tested the effect of _Metahizium anisopliae_ (Metschn.) [PERSON] (Hypocreales: ClaviCIPiaceae), _B. bassia_ (Bals. -Criv.) Vuill. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), _Nomuraez rielyi_(Farl.) Samson, (Hypocreales: ClaviCIPiaceae), against _H. amigera_ on chickpea under field conditions. The bio-efficacy of _B. bassia_ studied by [PERSON] et al. [67] against _H. armigera_ with four different doses sprayed topically against fourth-instar larvae recorded 76.7% mortality at the highest dose (0.25 mL \(\times\) 10\({}^{8}\) spores/mL). [PERSON] et al. [68] studied the effect of the entomogenic nematode, _Steinernema felliae_ [PERSON] (Rhabditida: Steinenenenmatidae), on survival and plasma phenoloxidase activity of _H. armigera_ in the lab. Another study conducted by [PERSON] et al. [69] documented the pathogenicity of indigenous soil isolate of _Bacillus thuringiensis_ Berliner (Basillales: Bacillaceae) on _H. armigera_. Additionally, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [70] demonstrated that _B. bassiana_ recorded significant larval mortality against _H. armigera_ in the field. As confirmed by our experiments, _Fusarium_ species can be used for _H. armigera_ management. Due to the epizootics caused by the fungi, after the first 24 h, the larvae showed no changes, feeding normally and responding to external stimuli. After that, the larvae became sluggish, lethargic, and if made to lie on their back, were crippled, showing inability to straightening themselves. Finally, they undergo a moribund stage and death occurs after some time. Mycelial growth (mummification) follows 36-48 h after death. It is also important to mention that _F. solani_ and _F. fujikuroi_ can also infect humans, the first one on a greater scale, but mostly immune-compromised patients are affected [19]. However, problems such as pathogenicity to plants and humans may be concerning but easily manageable nowadays, through genetic modification. With the implementation of genetic markers that detect entomogenicity and plant pathogenicity and gene silencing, new strains can be developed and applied as biological controls to pest management that will not pose a threat to either the environment or humans. In conclusion, tested _Fusarium_ isolates demonstrated noteworthy larvicidal action against _H. armigera_. Further investigations need to be conducted on other pests to establish the broad effectiveness of these _Fusarium_ isolates. The high mortality on _H. armigera_ larvae can signify that similar results could be recorded on other economically important moth species. Moreover, our results encourage the inception of studies on practical aspects of _Fusarium_-based insecticides, such as long-term stability, mass production, storage, and formulation issues. Conceptualization, S.M. ; methodology, S.M. ; software, S.M. ; validation, S.M., F.K. and P.A.E. ; formal analysis, S.M. ; investigation, S.M. ; resources, S.M. ; data curation, S.M. ; writing--original draft preparation, S.M., F.K., I.L. and P.A.E. ; writing--review and editing, S.M., F.K., I.L. and P.A.E. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This research received no external funding. Not applicable. The authors declare no conflict of interest.