Insect Pathology: Biocontrol Agents for Sustainable Insect Management

Abstract

One of the main tactics to control insect pests is the use of chemical pesticides. Unfortunately, the application of chemical pesticides can have a negative effect on human health and the environment, result in resistance of the pest species to pesticides; and kill or negatively affect non target organisms. An alternative to chemical control is biological control (or biocontrol), which is the study and use of living organisms for the suppression of population densities of pest insects. The living organisms are predators, parasitoids and entomopathogens (meaning microorganisms capable of causing diseases in insects. Insect pathology is a branch of entomology that focuses on the study of diseases and disorders affecting insects. It involves the investigation of pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and other parasites that can infect and cause diseases in insects. Insect Pathology is a broad topic that encompasses multiple disciplines that covers the biology of microbes that have a detrimental impact on the insect fitness. Over the past decades, progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the ability of microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, algae, nematodes) to infect and replicate within the insect host. Using a combination of histological and molecular approaches specific pathogenic determinants have been identified that dictate the infectivity, virulence, and specificity of various disease-causing agents. Fundamental studies on these insect-associated microbes have provided both products and strategies used in the management of insect pest populations. Insect pathology plays a crucial role in understanding the interactions between insects and pathogens, as well as their impact on insect populations, ecosystems, and agricultural systems. © 2025 Elite Publishing House.