Episode 155: Entomopathogenic Fungi Explained: Blastospores, Beauveria, and Smarter IPM with Julie Graesch
This week’s episode dives deep into entomopathogenic fungi—fungi that infect and kill insects—and how to use them effectively in real-world cultivation systems.
Most growers are familiar with products based on Beauveria and Metarhizium, but far fewer understand how these organisms actually work, why formulation matters, or how life-cycle differences—like blastospores versus conidia—impact performance in a grow.
My guest is Julie Graesch, a biological scientist with 18 years of experience spanning laboratory, greenhouse, and field research within the IPM industry. Julie currently works with BioWorks and has previously held positions at BASF, Becker Underwood, and Iowa State University.
We break down:
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How entomopathogenic fungi infect insect pests
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What blastospores are and why they behave differently
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Why some fungal applications fail while others are highly effective
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How to integrate fungal biocontrols into a preventative, biology-driven IPM program
If you’re using—or considering—biological insect controls, this episode will help you move from trial-and-error to deliberate, effective strategy.
