A lipase from a Brazilian strain of Metarhizium anisopliae was investigated. The effect of different lipid sources added to basal medium was verified to improve enzyme production. Biomass was highest for sunflower oil (21.88 mg/ml), however lipase specific activity was highest for olive oil (108.38 U/mg). In the presence of surfactants, the highest lipase activity occurred when SDS and Tween 80 were added after 50 h M. anisopliae growth. SDS (4.54 +/- 0.46 U/ml) and Tween 80 (4.15 +/- 1.13 U/ml) were the best surfactants. The best temperature for lipase production was 32 degreesC. This is the first report investigating lipase production by an entomopathogenic fungus. Published by Elsevier Ltd.