Beneficial microorganisms

What are beneficial microorganisms?

Beneficial microorganisms, also known as beneficial microbes, are microorganisms that provide positive effects to their environment, including various biological systems and organisms. These microorganisms play a crucial role in biological pest control by effectively infecting and controlling harmful pests.

Beneficial microorganisms for pest control include fungi, bacteria and viruses that naturally occur in environments such as soil, water, and air. These microorganisms are harnessed for pest control through applications like biopesticides, where they are introduced to target pests, providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides.

Well-known examples of beneficial microbes are the fungi Lecanicillium muscarium, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosoroseus and the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis.

Beneficial microorganisms for pest control

How it works

  1. Infection and colonization: Beneficial microorganisms start by infecting their insect hosts. The fungi produce spores that attach to the insect's cuticle (outer covering). Once attached, the spores germinate, penetrate the cuticle, and colonize the insect's body.
  2. Internal damage: Once inside the insect, the fungus proliferates, causing internal damage. This can lead to the insect's death.
  3. Spore production: As the insect succumbs to the fungal infection, the fungus continues to grow. Eventually, it produces more spores, which can be released into the environment to infect other pests.

Advantages of microorganisms in agriculture