<p><i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major pest of maize crops, posing a serious threat to food security. This study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of fungal isolates (Ma: <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> and Bb: <i>Beauveria bassiana</i>) and nematode species (Sc: <i>Steinernema carpocapsae</i> and Hb: <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i>) alone and in-combinations against the 3rd instar larvae of <i>S. frugiperda</i>. The entomopathogens alone induced mortality ranging from 31.67 to 80.00% (fungal isolates: <i>B. bassiana</i> and <i>M. anisopliae</i> @ 1 × 10⁵ – 1 × 10⁸ conidia ml^− 1) and from 41.67 to 81.67% (nematodes: <i>H. bacteriophora</i> and <i>S. carpocapsae</i>: @ 50–400 IJs). When applied in combinations LC₅₀ + LC₅₀ and LC₃₀ + LC₃₀, they induced 36.67–76.67% mortality against 3rd instar <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae. The combinations LC₅₀ + LC₅₀ (Bb + Hb) and LC₃₀ + LC₃₀ (Bb + Sc and Bb + Hb) demonstrated a synergistic impact, after exposure of ten days compared with others. Among all treated groups, the maximum feeding reduction was observed with Hb (45.00%) and Bb (34.74%) when applied alone, and with LC₅₀ + LC₅₀ combination of Bb + Hb (36.30%) and LC₃₀ + LC₃₀ of Bb + Hb (22.96%). The surviving larvae showed negative impacts on growth and development, including reduced pupation (16.67, 15, 21.67, and 25%), adult emergence (30, 33.33, 46.15, and 53.33%) and fecundity (21.25, 0, 16.25, and 26) with Bb and Hb (alone treatment), and Bb + Hb (combination: LC₅₀ + LC₅₀ and LC₃₀ + LC₃₀), respectively. All the treated groups showed egg eclosion except Hb and Bb + Hb (combination: LC₅₀ + LC₅₀ and LC₃₀ + LC₃₀). Maize crop in Pakistan is consistently damaged by <i>S. frugiperda</i>. Integrated application of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and nematodes offers a promising alternative approach to manage agricultural crop damage and reduce reliance on conventional synthetic insecticides, thereby mitigating their harmful impacts on the ecosystem.</p>