Insect pathogens as biological control agents: Back to the future

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Entomology
• Microbial Control
• Integrated Pest Management

Background:

• Entomopathogens are increasingly vital for pest control, offering alternatives to chemical pesticides.
• Successes and challenges exist in developing insect-specific viruses, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes for integrated pest management (IPM).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on the development, application, and future potential of entomopathogens in IPM.
• To highlight advancements and limitations of insect viruses, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes as microbial control agents (MCAs).

Main Methods:

• Review of current research and commercial applications of entomopathogenic viruses (baculoviruses), bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus), fungi, and nematodes.
• Analysis of factors influencing the efficacy, production, formulation, and market acceptance of these MCAs.

Main Results:

• Baculoviruses show promise but face production and application challenges.
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) dominates the MCA market, with transgenic crops offering significant benefits despite public perception issues.
• Entomopathogenic fungi have diverse ecological roles and potential for multiple pest control functions.
• Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) show increasing efficacy, especially in soil, with advancements in production and formulation.

Conclusions:

• Continued research into production, formulation, and ecological understanding is crucial for expanding the use of entomopathogens.
• Addressing limitations and public perception is key to maximizing the potential of these biological control agents in sustainable agriculture and public health.