insect pests. The probability of finding entomopathogenic fungi is increased by knowing the soil characteristics
supporting fungal survival and diversity. Many opportunistic fungi are closely associated with
EPF in soil. Diversity and occurrence of fungi were carried out from soil samples (145) and dead insects
(225) collected from natural and cultivated areas of south Punjab. The relative research for the presence
and abundance of EPF in samples of soils collected from cultivated to non-cultivated hilly lands show that
fruit orchid can be considered as a richer in these fungal species. The EPF was mainly isolated from the
collected (225) insect cadavers belonging to six insect orders out of which only 94 were positive for any
category of fungus isolated. Insects from Coleoptera were reported with maximum occurrence (44.68%)
for harboring any kind of the fungus followed by Lepidoptera (36.17%). Aspergillus niger (27.50%) was the
most occurring taxa among all isolates, while Fusarium oxysporium was dominantly occurring specie
(17.02%). It can be concluded that orchard soils that are least disturbed (tillage, weeding, etc) and supplied
with ample moisture should be preferred for sampling in order to isolate the entomopathogens.
Furthermore, insect cadavers from coleoptera and lepidoptera should be preferred for collection for
the sake of entomopathogenic fungi.