Myco-Biocontrol of Insect Pests: Factors Involved, Mechanism, and Regulation
Table 1
Different types of organisms including pathogenic microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes have been used as biocontrol agents.
Biocontrol agent
Common examples
Biological action
Parasitic insects: living organisms remaining in close association with their hosts and gradually derive their food from the host
Trichogramma chilonis, Epiricania melanoleuca
They live and feed internally or externally on the host.
Predatory insects
Chrysoperla carnea, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Insects which kill and devour the prey
Microorganisms (Bacteria, fungi, viruses)
Bacteria, for example, Bacillus thuringiensis Fungi, for example, species of Trichoderma, Nomuraea, Paecilomyces,Verticillium, Metarhizium, and Beauveria Viruses, for example, nuclear polyhedrosis virus
Cause diseases in pests and inhibit the harmful fungi