What are microbial insecticides?

Microbial insecticide is a kind of insecticide which infects the selected insect population with bacteria, virus, amoeba or fungi Although it sounds dangerous, the pesticide is actually safe because it's specific to specific species These insecticides usually have no effect on animals unless a reduction of specific insects in the area interrupts the food chain Each microbial insecticide is generally directed at only one insect Bacterial insecticides can be used to control certain caterpillars that eat crops They kill moths and butterflies, so they are only suitable for use where butterfly populations are not reduced Normally, they can be sprayed directly on crops There is also a bacterial product specifically for mosquitoes, which is good for eliminating the spread of West Nile virus Some viral microbial insecticides first make insects sick or kill some populations Depending on the virus used, they may affect moths or wasps Fungicides can be used to kill cockroaches and sicken entire populations Although amoeba can not kill insects, it can shorten its life span or make it unable to reach sexual maturity Then Microbial insecticides can only be used to kill a single type of insect, so different products need to be used in the case of multiple pests Because these pesticides are species-specific and unlikely to harm other insects that eat or contaminate crops, they do not reduce all diseases at the same time These pesticides are more susceptible to outdoor factors For example, long-term exposure to sunlight or heavy rain can kill certain bacteria Therefore, it is necessary to choose time carefully to control pests in order to achieve the best effect Some scientists are concerned about the safety of microbial insecticides Experts determine that organisms (even at the micro level) will change and develop, including the organisms they affect Specific insects may be resistant to bacteria or viruses used to kill them, and pesticides may mutate and affect other populations These uncertainties have led some environmentalists to worry that the widespread use of microbial products will bring potential risks in the future However, other environmentalists believe that the development of species-specific products can better replace the frequent use of poisons These people believe that the use of microbial insecticides provides a way to keep insects safe and beneficial.