HISTORY, USE AND FUTURE OF MICROBIAL INSECTICIDES IN URBAN PEST CONTROL

Abstract:
Microbial (bio) insecticides are products based on living micro-organisms which are pathogenic to insects. These micro-organisms have a long history of study and are considered to have great potential as pest control agents. However. in the past research has concentrated on pests of agriculture and, to a lesser extent, on medical and veterinary arthropods. Pests of the urban environment have been less studied but cockroaches, flies, termites and stored product insects have received recent attention. Selection of a micro-organism for development as a bioinsecticide is based on the following criteria, which are interlinked.