Microbial pesticides

• Microbial insecticides are composed of microscopic living organisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or nematodes) or the toxins produced by these organisms formulated to be applied as conventional insecticidal sprays, dusts, or granules.
• Microbial insecticides offer effective alternatives for the control of many insect pests.
• Their greatest strength is their specificity as most are essentially nontoxic and nonpathogenic to animals and humans.

Advantages of microbial pesticides

• The organisms used in microbial insecticides are essentially nontoxic and nonpathogenic.
• The toxic action is specific to a single group or species of insects, and this specificity means that they do not directly affect beneficial insects.
• If necessary, most microbial insecticides can be used in conjunction with synthetic chemical insecticides.
• In some cases, the pathogenic microorganisms can become established in a pest population or its habitat and provide control during subsequent pest generations or seasons.

Disadvantages of microbial pesticides

• Heat, desiccation (drying out), or exposure to ultraviolet radiation reduces the effectiveness of several types of microbial insecticides. Consequently, proper timing and application procedures are especially important for some products.
• Special formulation and storage procedures are necessary for some microbial pesticides.
• As microbial insecticides are pest-specific, the potential market for these products may be limited.