Insecticides, Microbial

Abstract

This article presents contextual coverage of viral, bacterial, and fungal microbial insecticides (MIs). Insect pests reduce plant productivity and threaten animal health. There are 1500 entomogenous microorganisms with interesting entomological–ecological specificity. MIs sicken or kill insects as whole microorganisms or their insecticidal bioproducts. MIs and chemical insecticides (CIs) are distinct. MIs, whether protein toxins or pathogenic cells, act in a multistep and multistage manner causing morbidity–mortality phenomena. CIs provide a quick knockdown effect that MIs do not. MIs are safe to nontarget organisms (NTOs) including humans. CIs must be used for periodic reduction of pest population size or their spread, irrespective of our perspectives on insect biodiversity or risk-hazard equation. Central to MIs is genes encoding for entomocidal proteins, toxic secondary metabolites, and overall pathology. Also, the relative ease of propagation and formulation produces significant advantages. MIs can persist for variable times sometimes establishing epizootics limiting population spread. Contributions of microbial physiology and genetics, applied microbiology, fermentation and formulation technologies, applied entomology, and biotechnology have been pivotal to MI development. A new era for interdisciplinary engagement in molecular biology, genomic, and proteomic aspects of MI is facilitating forward moves beyond the proof of concept and deployment of MI and their commercial products.