Abstract
The field of insect pathology — the study of viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan and nematode infections of insects — is often judged to have come of age with the publication of Edward Steinhaus’ book ‘Principles of Insect Pathology’ (1949). Perhaps because this same period also gave birth to the ‘chemical era’ (Chapter 1), comparisons between the success of insect pathogens and the success of chemical insecticides have been inevitable. Viewed in this light, the adoption of microbial bioinsecticides has been disappointing, with less than one per cent of all 1995 insecticide sales being based on insect pathogens (Georgis, 1997). Direct comparisons with chemical insecticides are, however, just one way to measure success of insect control strategies. In this chapter, we aim to develop a somewhat different framework for evaluating success by reviewing several significant examples of insect control by pathogens. In doing so, we hope to identify common features among both successful and failed microbial control projects, thus providing guidance in the planning of future microbial control programmes, as well as a better understanding of where our efforts have led us today.
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Gelernter, W.D., Lomer, C.J. (2000). Success in Biological Control of Above-ground Insects by Pathogens. In: Gurr, G., Wratten, S. (eds) Biological Control: Measures of Success. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4014-0_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4014-0_10
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