Baculoviruses: Their Status Compared to Bacillus thuringiensis as Microbial Insecticides

1988 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Shelf Life ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Intrinsic Activity ◽  
Directing Attention ◽  
Relevant Factors

With the present need to address environmental problems, there is much interest in biological control of insect pests rather than the use of chemical insecticides. This article critically reviews the use of baculoviruses worldwide in agriculture and forestry, directing attention not only to intrinsic activity but to other relevant factors such as shelf-life in storage, fluctuation in demand, and cost of production and applications. It draws particular attention to the relevance of baculoviruses to pest control in developing countries where labour is cheap.

Implementation of biological control

1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joop C. van Lenteren
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Industry Policy ◽  
Chemical Pesticides ◽  
Inoculative Biological Control

AbstractThe number of species of insect pests, estimated to be maximally 10,000 worldwide, forms only a small part of the millions of species of plant-eating insects. Chemical pest control is becoming increasingly difficult and objectionable in terms of environmental contamination so that other methods of pest control need to be developed. One of the best alternatives is biological control. Natural and inoculative biological control has already proven successful against a variety of pests over large areas. One is inclined to forget, however, how successful a biological control program has been as soon as the pest problem has been solved. Other types of biological control involving the regular introduction or augmentation of natural enemies are better known, although these have been applied on a much smaller scale; a survey of the present-day application of these latter types of biological control is presented here. Phases in the implementation of biological control are illustrated and needed future developments in research are discussed. The main limitation on the development of biological control is not the research, since natural enemies are easier found and with a much lower investment than new chemical pesticides, but rather the attitudes held by growers and disinterest on the part of industry, policy-makers, and politicians. The first priority for those concerned with the development and application of safer pest control should, therefore, be to change the perceptions that these other groups have of biological control.

scholarly journals Fatores de virulência de Bacillus thuringiensis: o que existe além das proteínas Cry

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gislayne Trindade Vilas-Bôas ◽  
Rita C. Alvarez ◽  
Clelton A. Dos Santos ◽  
Laurival A. Vilas-Boas
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Cry Proteins ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Vip Proteins ◽  
Bacterium Bacillus ◽  
And Control

As proteínas Cry produzidas pela bactéria entomopatogênica Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner são bem conhecidas devido a alta citotoxicidade que exibem a uma variedade de insetos-alvo. O modo de ação destas proteínas é específico e torna os produtos à base de B. thuringiensis os mais amplamente utilizados em programas de controle biológico de pragas na agricultura e de importantes vetores de doenças humanas. Contudo, embora as proteínas Cry sejam os fatores de virulência inseto-específico mais conhecidos, linhagens de B. thuringiensis apresentam também uma ampla gama de fatores de virulência, os quais permitem à bactéria atingir a hemolinfa e colonizar eficientemente o inseto hospedeiro. Dentre estes fatores, destacam-se as proteínas Vip, Cyt, enterotoxinas, hemolisinas, fosfolipases, proteases, enzimas de degradação, além das recentemente descritas parasporinas. Essa revisão aborda a ação desses fatores de virulência, bem como a caracterização e o controle da expressão de seus genes. Adicionalmente, são discutidos aspectos relacionados ao nicho ecológico da bactéria com ênfase nas características envolvidas com a biossegurança da utilização dos produtos à base de B. thuringiensis para o controle biológico de insetos-alvo. Virulence Factors of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner: Something Beyond of Cry Proteins? Abstract. The Cry proteins produced by the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner are widely known due to its high toxicity against a variety of insects. The mode of action of these proteins is specific and becomes B. thuringiensis-based products the most used in biological control programs of insect pests in agriculture and of important human disease vectors. However, while the Cry proteins are the best-known insect-specific virulence factor, strains of B. thuringiensis show also a wide range of other virulence factors, which allow the bacteria to achieve the hemolymph and colonize efficiently the insect host. Among these factors, we highlight the Vip proteins, Cyt, enterotoxins, hemolysins, phospholipases, proteases and enzymes of degradation, in addition to the recently described parasporin. This review explores the action of these virulence factors, as well as, the characterization and control of expression of their genes. Additionally, we discuss aspects related to the ecological niche of the bacteria with emphasis on the characteristics involved in the biosafety of the use of B. thuringiensis-based products for biological control of target insects.

scholarly journals Bracon wasps for ecological pest control–a laboratory experiment

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11540
Author(s):  
Jessica Lettmann ◽  
Karsten Mody ◽  
Tore-Aliocha Kursch-Metz ◽  
Nico Blüthgen ◽  
Katja Wehner
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Laboratory Experiment ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Parasitoid Wasp ◽  
Host Larva ◽  
Wasp Species ◽  
Single Host

Biological control of pest insects by natural enemies may be an effective, cheap and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides. The cosmopolitan parasitoid wasp species Bracon brevicornis Wesmael and B. hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) use lepidopteran species as hosts, including insect pests like Ephestia kuehniella or Ostrinia nubilalis. Here, we compare the reproductive success of both Bracon species on E. kuehniella in a laboratory experiment. We asked (1) how the reproductive success on a single host larva changes with temperature, (2) how it changes with temperature when more host larvae are present and (3) how temperature and availability of host larvae influence the efficacy of Bracon species as biological control agents. In general, differences between B. brevicornis and B. hebetor have been small. For rearing both Bracon species in the laboratory on one host larva, a temperature between 20–27 °C seems appropriate to obtain the highest number of offspring with a female-biased sex ratio. Rearing the braconid wasps on more than one host larva revealed a higher number of total offspring but less offspring per host larva on average. Again, highest numbers of offspring hatched at 27 °C and the sex ratio was independent from temperature. Although no parasitoids hatched at 12 °C and only few at 36 °C, host larvae were still paralyzed. The efficacy of B. brevicornis was higher than 80% at all numbers of host larvae presented at all temperatures while the efficacy of B. hebetor was less than 80% at 12 °C and 27 °C at low numbers of host larvae presented. In conclusion, practitioners can use either B. brevicornis or B. hebetor at low and high temperatures and at varying host densities to achieve high pest control efficacy.

scholarly journals The recent Canadian record in applied biological control of forest insect pests

1988 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Hulme
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Private Industry ◽  
Forest Insect ◽  
Environmental Compatibility ◽  
Forest Manager

The applied biological control of 21 forest insect pests was recently evaluated in Canada. One-third of these pests have been almost permanently controlled in their present environment. One-third of the pests can be controlled for one to several pest generations. The remaining third were either not controlled or the evaluation of the applied biological control has not been completed. Benefit:cost data are scant and those available are rudimentary. Ratios of at least 20:1 were calculated for two successes with long-term control. Higher ratios were obtained when the control economics were examined from the perspective of the forest manager. Only the production of Bacillus thuringiensis is sufficiently profitable for private industry to undertake supply. Applied biological control has a good record of environmental compatibility. Prospects for the control method are briefly outlined.

scholarly journals Response Mechanisms of Invertebrates to Bacillus thuringiensis and Its Pesticidal Proteins

2021 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Pinos ◽  
Ascensión Andrés-Garrido ◽  
Juan Ferré ◽  
Patricia Hernández-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Insecticidal Proteins ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resistance Evolution ◽  
Control Insect

SUMMARY Extensive use of chemical insecticides adversely affects both environment and human health. One of the most popular biological pest control alternatives is bioinsecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis. This entomopathogenic bacterium produces different protein types which are toxic to several insect, mite, and nematode species. Currently, insecticidal proteins belonging to the Cry and Vip3 groups are widely used to control insect pests both in formulated sprays and in transgenic crops. However, the benefits of B. thuringiensis-based products are threatened by insect resistance evolution. Numerous studies have highlighted that mutations in genes coding for surrogate receptors are responsible for conferring resistance to B. thuringiensis. Nevertheless, other mechanisms may also contribute to the reduction of the effectiveness of B. thuringiensis-based products for managing insect pests and even to the acquisition of resistance. Here, we review the relevant literature reporting how invertebrates (mainly insects and Caenorhabditis elegans) respond to exposure to B. thuringiensis as either whole bacteria, spores, and/or its pesticidal proteins.

scholarly journals Development and reproduction of Podisus distinctus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) fed on larva of Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

2004 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Lacerda ◽  
A. M. R. M. Ferreira ◽  
T. V. Zanuncio ◽  
J. C. Zanuncio ◽  
A. S. Bernardino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Heteroptera Pentatomidae ◽  
Bombyx Mori L ◽  
Chemical Products ◽  
Coleoptera Tenebrionidae

Biological control has been reducing the use of chemical products against insect pests, specially predatory Pentatomidae. Species of this group can present high variations in their life cycle as a result of their diet. Thus, the objective of this research was to study nymph development and reproduction of Podisus distinctus (Stäl, 1860) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) fed on Bombyx mori L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larvae (T1), compared to those fed on Tenebrio molitor L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (T2) and Musca domestica L., 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae (T3) at a temperature of 25 ± 0.5ºC, relative humidity of 70 ± 2%, and photophase of 12 h. Predators fed on B. mori showed duration of the nymph phase (18.68 ± 1.02) similar to those fed on T. molitor (18.32 ± 1.49). Pre-oviposition and oviposition periods and number of egg masses, besides eggs and nymphs per female, were higher with B. mori (5.83 ± 2.02; 15.00 ± 7.40; 8.42 ± 1.84; 296.69 ± 154.75; and 228.55 ± 141.04, respectively) while longevity of males and females of P. distinctus was 25.76 ± 16.15 and 35.00 ± 16.15 days with T. molitor, and 20.57 ± 13.60 and 23.46 ± 12.35 days with B. mori, respectively.

Bacillus thuringiensis and pest control

Science ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 253 (5024) ◽  
pp. 1075-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Pest Control

Carabidae (Coleoptera) in Nova Scotia, Canada wild blueberry fields: prospects for biological control

2012 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 779-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.C. Cutler ◽  
J.M. Renkema ◽  
C.G. Majka ◽  
J.M. Sproule
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Conservation Biological Control ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Wild Blueberries ◽  
Wild Blueberry

AbstractThe Carabidae (Coleoptera) are a diverse family of beetles with almost 300 species identified in Nova Scotia, Canada. Carabid beetle communities have been studied in several agricultural systems, but not wild blueberries, an important crop in eastern Canada. In the interest of potentially developing conservation biological control programs in wild blueberry, we collected Carabidae in crop (fruit-bearing) and sprout (vegetative) blueberry fields in Nova Scotia in order to assess species diversity and abundance over space and time. Over 3200 specimens were collected, representing 51 species. A large portion of collected specimens (39%) were nonnative, and the most abundant species were generally predacious and synanthropic. Species diversity tended to be higher near forest edges than further into fields, but not for all abundant species. Several of the most prominent predators showed significant differences in preference of crop versus sprout fields, distribution throughout fields, and seasonable abundance. These findings have implications for conservation biological control efforts with carabid beetles against several insect pests in wild blueberry.

Regulatory roles of microRNAs in insect pests: prospective targets for insect pest control

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 158-166
Author(s):  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Wei Dou ◽  
Clauvis Nji Tizi Taning ◽  
Guy Smagghe ◽  
Jin-Jun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Insect Pest Control

scholarly journals Myco-Biocontrol of Insect Pests: Factors Involved, Mechanism, and Regulation

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sardul Singh Sandhu ◽  
Anil K. Sharma ◽  
Vikas Beniwal ◽  
Gunjan Goel ◽  
Priya Batra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Insect Pest Control ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Chemical Inputs ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

The growing demand for reducing chemical inputs in agriculture and increased resistance to insecticides have provided great impetus to the development of alternative forms of insect-pest control. Myco-biocontrol offers an attractive alternative to the use of chemical pesticides. Myco-biocontrol agents are naturally occurring organisms which are perceived as less damaging to the environment. Their mode of action appears little complex which makes it highly unlikely that resistance could be developed to a biopesticide. Past research has shown some promise of the use of fungi as a selective pesticide. The current paper updates us about the recent progress in the field of myco-biocontrol of insect pests and their possible mechanism of action to further enhance our understanding about the biological control of insect pests.

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