Lakhasly

Insects are vulnerable to diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Microbial control offers a safe and specific way to manage insect pests, as it poses no threat to humans or other organisms. Entomopathogenic and antagonistic bacteria, being unicellular prokaryotes, are the foundation for many commercially successful microbial insecticides. These bacteria primarily enter insects through their mouths or guts, but can also infiltrate through other routes like the reproductive system, cuticles, spiracles, and even through the actions of parasitoids and predators. Once inside, they disrupt the insect's physiology, leading to disease and death. Over 100 types of bacteria with antagonistic effects on insects have been identified, many of which are non-spore forming, facultative pathogens residing in the soil and insect gut. These bacteria can cause illness in the host under stressful conditions or in the presence of other pathogens. The potential for integrating microbial control with other pest management methods, particularly chemical control, is a significant advantage of this approach.

Insects are constantly exposed to pathogenic microorganisms and prokaryotes, and some of them cause severe and lethal diseases in them. Using microorganisms to control insect pests has been explored due to their specific and selective effect on their host and posing no danger to humans and all other organisms . One of the important benefits of microbial control is the possibility of its integration with other methods of pest management, especially chemical control .

Entomopathogenic and antagonistic bacteria are unicellular prokaryotes, and their toxic byproducts are the most commercially successful broad-spectrum microbial insecticides . Many of these bacteria enter the body of the host insect through its mouth or gut. Few of them get into the host body via the reproductive system or eggs, cuticles, spiracles, and the activity of parasitoids and predators. Bacteria cause disease and death in insects by disrupting the physiology of the gut upon entering the hemocoel or gut . More than 100 types of bacteria have been reported with different antagonistic effects on insects. Most of the bacterial species that could cause disease in insects are not spore-forming, are facultative pathogens, and live in soil.

These species are also found in the gut of insects and cause disease or dysfunction in the host under certain conditions like tension or other pathogenic agents