Detoxifying symbionts in agriculturally important pest insects

Detoxifying symbionts in agriculturally important pest insects

Pest insects lead to excessive agricultural and therefore economical losses on crops worldwide. These insects have to withstand toxic molecules that are inherent to plant defences, as well as those that are produced and introduced by humans in the form of insecticides. In recent years, research on insect-microbe symbioses has recognized that microbial symbionts may play a role protecting agains...

RNAi in Agriculturally-Important Arthropods

Agriculturally Important Insects Diversity in Kharif and Rabi crops of Talwandi sabo, Punjab

The field investigation during 2013-14 at Talwandi sabo, Punjab revealed that there are 19 insect pests identified from kharif crops whereas 13 insect pests were recorded from rabi crops. The 5 bio control agents and 2 ant species were recorded from agriculture field. In these Hemiptera and Lepidoptera are having maximum number of insect pests causing major damage to both kharif and rabi crops....

Riding the Trojan horse: combating pest insects with their own symbionts

Insects form an extremely large group of animals and bear a consequently large variety of associated microbes. This microbiota includes very specific and obligate symbionts that provide essential functions to the host, and facultative partners that are not necessarily required for survival. The Tephritidae is a large family that includes many fruit pests such as the Mediterranean fruit fly (the...

Ionizing Radiation Disinfestation Treatments against Pest Insects

Pesticides are often considered a suitable solution for controlling pests. However, the use of chemicals is very costly, and their residues have always the potential to pollute soil, air, and ground water and also pose significant risks to the natural ecosystems and nontarget organisms. Considering all these, irradiation could offer substantial and charming option for eliminating the export com...