Biological Pesticides
Biological pesticides, also known as biopesticides, are pesticides derived from natural materials such as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. Biopesticides are used for controlling pests in agriculture, forestry, and public health. There are three main type of biopesticides: Predatory or Parasitic Organisms pesticides (derived from beneficial insects or other organisms), Microbial pesticides (derived from microbes), and Plant-incorporated protectants (derived from plants). The commonly used biopesticides are living organisms, which are pathogenic for the pest of interest such as biofungicides (Trichoderma), bioherbicides (Phytophthora), and bioinsecticides (Bacillus thuringiensis).
Biopesticides work through various mechanisms, such as predation, parasitism, competition, antibiosis, or interference with the pest’s reproductive cycle. They are target specific and having minimal impact on non-target organisms. They leave little to no residue on crop and have lower toxicity to humans, animals, and beneficial insects. They are useful in sustainable agriculture and organic farming.
Pesticides
Pesticides are substances that are used to control pests. Pesticides can be chemical such as carbanate or biological like bacteria or viruses that deter or kill pests. It may include insecticides to kill insects, herbicides for weed control, fungicides to control fungi, and rodenticides to kill rodents. Pesticides are used to target pests that are considered to be harmful like insects, weeds, microbes, etc. However, along with the benefits pesticides can cause harmful effects too including harm to the nontarget species, environmental degradation, a potential risk to human health, and loss of biodiversity.
Table of Content
- Definition of Pesticides
- What are Pesticides?
- Types of Pesticides
- Examples of Pesticides
- Uses of Pesticides
- Harmful Effects of Pesticides
- Pesticide Control
- Biological Pesticides
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