Before molecular techniques were introduced at the end of the 20th century, Metarhizium species were identified on morphological (notably conidial) characteristics.

Certain strains are advised against use in food-growing fields and in close proximity to water sources due to risk of their contamination.

[10][note 1] In the 1990s, the LUBILOSA research programme proved that M. acridum in its spore form was effective in killing locusts and other members of the Acrididea families with no deleterious effects found in field trials on any nontarget species except for the domesticated silk worm Bombyx mori.

[12] The same company recently (2019) obtained the licence to produce and market the original product developed by LUBILOSA, which is called Green Muscle.

A third product, Green Guard, is produced by BASF of Australia for the control of Australian plague locusts and wingless grasshoppers.