INTRODUCTION

Insect population is the largest with more than 750000 species

Negative effects of insects
Chlorinated hydrocarbons,organophosphates
Synthetic chemical insecticides provide many benefits to food production and human
health, but they also pose some hazards.
alternative methods of insect management offer adequate levels of pest control and pose
fewer hazards.

DISADVANTAGES OF CHEMICAL INSECTICIDES

extensive pollution of the environment,

serious health hazard due to the presence of their residues in food, fiber and fodder
increasing cases of insects developing resistance, e.g., Helicoverpa has become resistant
to most of the insecticides.

BIOINSECTICIDES

Microorganisms used for insect control are often called bioinsecticide

The term biopesticide is used for all biocontrol agents. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa
and mites are employed to control a variety of insects attacking both plants and animals.
Microbial insecticides can be
Microbially produced toxic substance
Organism
ADVANTAGES OF MICROBIAL INSECTICIDES
The organisms used in microbial insecticides are essentially nontoxic and nonpathogenic
to wildlife, humans, and other organisms not closely related to the target pest.
The toxic action of microbial insecticides is often specific to a single group or species of
insects
most microbial insecticides can be used in conjunction with synthetic chemical
insecticides because in most cases the microbial product is not deactivated or damaged by
residues of conventional insecticides. residues present no hazards to humans or other
animals,
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 INSECTICIDES

they are specific to only a well defined range of target species.
Heat, desiccation (drying out), or exposure to ultraviolet radiation reduces the
effectiveness of several types of microbial insecticides.
Special formulation and storage procedures are necessary for some microbial pesticides.
Because several microbial insecticides are pest-specific, the potential market for these
products may be limited
Biopesticides Chemical pesticides

 These do not harm nontarget  Nontarget species are also

species harmed

 They do not pollute the  Cause pollution; sometimes

environment serious

 No harmful residues remain in  Harmful residues may often

food, fodder and fibers remain in food, fodder and fibers

 Relatively cheaper  Relatively costlier

 Insects are expected not to  Insects may become resistant,

develop resistance to e.g., Heliothis has become
biopesticides resistant to most insecticides
 Since they are highly specific,  It is often not critical
correct identification of the pest
is essential
 High specificity may often make  Often not required
the use of two or more
biopesticides necessary
 Performance may be variable  This is not often the case
due to the influence of biotic and
abiotic factors of the
environment

TYPES
• Bacterial
• Viral
• Fungal
• protozoan
Bacterial insecticides
Bacterial pathogens used for insect control are spore forming, rod-shaped bacteria in the
genus Bacillus.
They occur commonly in soils, and most insecticidal strains have been isolated from soil
samples.
Bacterial insecticides must be eaten to be effective; they are not contact poisons.
Insecticidal products comprised of a single Bacillus species may be active against an
entire order of insects, or they may be effective against only one or a few species.
Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki kill the caterpillar stage of a wide array of butterflies
and moths.
In contrast, Bacillus popillae (milky spore disease) kills Japanese beetle larvae but is not
effective against the closely related annual white grubs that commonly infest lawns.
Bacillus thuringiensis
Bt is a gram-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming bacterium
Bt, however, is recognized by its parasporal body (known as the crystal) that is
proteinaceous in nature and which possesses insecticidal properties.
The parasporal body comprises of crystals varying in size, shape and morphology. The
crystals are tightly packed with proteins called protoxins or-endotoxins.
There are many subspecies and serotypes of Bt with a range of well-characterized
insecticidal proteins or Bt toxins
At present it has been estimated that over 60,000 isolates of Bt are being maintained in
culture collections worldwide.
Known Bt toxins kill subsets of insects among the Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and
nematodes.
FIG1 N FIG 2

How Bt works?
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry proteins and the bacterium itself are used as pesticides.
If the plant has been genetically modified, it contains the Cry protein within itself.
If a pesticide has been used, the plant is coated in the bacteria.
Both accomplish much of the same effect, but the Genetically Modified method tends to
work better.
Three stage process
Stage1
the active crystal protein is attached to the Bt spore.
This spore is ingested by an unfortunate organism, and the work begins.
The spore and crystal enter the digestive tract, where they make their way to the
organism's gut.
Stage2
The crystal surrounding the protein breaks off from the spore and begins to dissolve.
Once the crystal has been completely dissolved, the toxin is activated.
In order for the crystal to be dissolved and the toxin to become activated, the pH level
must be within a very limited range
Thus, only specific organisms will have the correct pH balance to release the toxin.
stage3
The toxin binds itself to receptors in the gut
Once the toxin binds itself to the membrane, it begins to bore holes through it. It
completely perforates the gut membrane.
Multiple toxins will bind and follow these steps, until the creature has been paralyzed, or
starves to death.
The creature is paralyzed because its stomach acids leak out into the rest of the body
causing serious damage (pleasant).
FIG 3
Application
Spray when caterpillars are still small.
Completely cover all leaf surfaces. The insects must ingest the bacteria when they are
feeding.
Spray in the evening or during cloudy (but not rainy) days.
There may be a need to reapply if it rains soon after application.
Caterpillars will take several days to die, but they will stop feeding soon after infection.
Bt is not persistent. It may need to be reapplied. Follow label instructions.
Mix only enough product needed and use immediately. This is especially important in
areas with high pH water (alkaline).
Use a spreader-sticker to enhance product coverage on leaves
Bacillus popillae
Bacillus lentimorbus
Milky spore disease
organism Product name

1.Bacillus thuringiensis var. Dipel®, Javelin®, Thuricide®, Worm

kurstaki Attack®,
Caterpillar Killer®, Bactospeine®, and
SOK-Bt®

2. B.thuringiensis var. aizawai Certan®

3. B. thuringiensis var. Vectobac®, Teknar®, Bactimos®,

israelensis (Bti) Skeetal®, and Mosquito Attack®.
4. Bacillus popillae and Bacillus Doom®, Japidemic®, Grub
lentimorbus. Attack®,

5. Bacillus thurigiensis var. san M-One®,

diego,

VIRAL INSECTICIDE
More than 450 viruses are used
Epizootic: Baculoviridae, Pox, Reo, Irido, Parvo, Picorna, rhabdo
NPV:nuclear polyhedrosis virus
• develops in the host cell nuclei
• Virions are occluded singly or in groups in polyhedral inclusion bodies
CPV: cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus
• Develops only in the cytoplasm of host midgut epithelial cells
• Virions are occluded singly in polyhedral inclusion bodies
GV:granulosis virus
• Develops in either nucleus or cytoplasm
• Virions are occluded in single or pairs in small occlusion bodies called capsules
• Insect-specific viruses can be highly effective natural controls of several
caterpillar pests.
• Insect viruses need to be eaten by an insect to cause infection but may also spread
from insect to insect during mating or egg laying
• No threat to humans or wildlife is posed by insect viruses.
• The successful commercialization of insect-pathogenic viruses has been limited
• NPV affects alfalfa looper, corn earworm, imported cabbageworm, cabbage
looper, cotton bollworm, cotton leafworm, tobacco budworm, armyworms,
European corn borer, almond moth, spruce budworm, Douglas fir tussock moth,
pine sawfly and gypsy moth.
• granulosis virus have been isolated from several caterpillar species, including
imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper, armyworm, fall webworm, and
mosquitoes, among many others.
• Viruses invade an insect's body via the gut. They replicate in many tissues and
can disrupt components of an insect's physiology, interfering with feeding, egg
laying, and movement
• infected larvae may initially turn white and granular or very dark. "caterpillar
wilt" or "tree top" disease
• Mass reared viruses have been successfully applied in limited areas as microbial
insecticides against pests.
• Infected caterpillars have been mashed into a water solution and applied to pest
populations as a form of microbial insecticide
BACULOVIRUS
• Rod shaped DNA viruses
• Include NPV and GV
• Pathogenic for Lepidoptera,Hymenoptera and Diptera
• Infection is by injestion of food
• Virally induced infertility was a potent control measure
 • Effective against catterpillars,alfalfa,white butterflies,cabbage loppers,cotton
bollworms,corn ear worms etc
Life Cycle
• the baculovirus life cycle is divided temporally into immediate early, early, late,
and very late phases.
• Viruses enter the cell by adsorptive endocytosis and move to the nucleus, where
their DNA is released.
• DNA replication begins ~6 hr after infection and is followed by viral assembly in
the nucleus of the infected cell.
• Two types of viral progeny are produced during the life cycle of the virus:
extracellular virus particles (nonoccluded viruses) during the late phase and
polyhedra-derived virus particles (occluded viruses) during the very late phase of
infection.
• Extracellular virus is released from the cell by budding, beginning at ~12 hr
postinfection,.
• Polyhedra-derived virus, on the other hand, appears in the nucleus at ~18 hr
postinfection
• Occluded viral particles are embedded in proteinaceous viral occlusions called
polyhedra within the nucleus of infected cells.
• The polyhedrin protein (29 kDa) is the major protein component of the occlusion
bodies.
• baculoviruses are lytic, they quickly kill their insect host after infection.
• The virus is transmitted when occlusion bodies are ingested by a new host as it
feeds on a contaminated food source
• The polyhedrin protein dissolves in the alkaline environment of the new host's gut
and the occluded virus is released.
• This virus infects the gut epithelial cells and virus replication takes place.
• Nonoccluded virus is then produced and budded from the infected gut cells
Fig: virus action
Baculoviruses
• Helocoverpa zea nuclear polyhedrosis virus
(HzSNPV)
• Orgyia pseudotsugata (Ot) MNPV
• Lymantria dispar (Ld) MNPV
• Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. Ac MNPV
FUNGAL INSECTICIDES
Entamogenous fungi was found to be effective
Beauveria, Metarrhizium, Entomophthora, Hyphomycetes , Coelomomyces
Deuteromycotina , Zygomycotina
Effective against coloradbeetle,gypsymoth,leaf hoppers,mosquitoes
Successful sporulation and spread of pathogen requires 100% moisture
Act slowly and give limited protection to crops
Many fungi produce biologically active secondary metabolites, some of which are very
toxic and this is a major concern with all fungal BCAs as their presence would represent
a health risk.
MODE OF ACTION
Formation of an Infection Structure:
Entomopathogenic fungi invade their hosts by direct penetration of the host exoskeleton
or cuticle.
conidia germinate on the host surface and often differentiate to form an appressorium.
penetrates down through the host cuticle and eventually emerges into the haemocoel of
the insect.
Penetration of the Cuticle: entry into the host involves both enzymic degradation and
mechanical pressure.
endoproteases and aminopeptidase
N-acetylglucosaminidase
Production of Toxins :
Growth of fungi in the haemolymph of insects may be as yeast-like blastospores, hyphal
bodies or protoplasts
Many fungi do not penetrate internal organs before the death of the host, and may kill the
host by consuming nutrients in the haemolymph.
A high-molecular-mass insecticidal protein toxin (>10 kDa) has been extracted from the
haemolymph of infected insect eg:Destruxins
Fungi invade insects by penetrating their cuticle or "skin".
Once inside the insect, the fungus rapidly multiplies throughout the body.
Death is caused by tissue destruction and, occasionally, by toxins produced by the fungus
fig
PROTOZOAN INSECTICIDES
Not suited for short time ,quick acting microbial insecticides
Must be applied before outbreak of the disease
Effective against grasshoppers,mosquitoes,boll weevils
they reduce host reproduction or feeding rather than killing the pest.
must be eaten to infect an insect, but there many also be some natural transmission within
a pest population,
The pathogen enters the insect body via the gut wall, spreads to various tissues and
organs, and multiplies, sometimes causing tissue breakdown and septicemia.
Infected insects may be sluggish and smaller than normal, sometimes with reduced
feeding and reproduction.