Use of Baculoviruses as Biological Insecticides

Baculoviruses have been isolated from a wide range of invertebrates. Their development as pest control agents spans over 40 years, although records of their discovery and use date from considerably earlier (1 ). The baculoviruses from Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hymenoptera (sawflies only), and Coleoptera (beetles) present the best options for pest control, and thus most research on baculovirus insecticides has concentrated on these orders. Baculovirus insecticides have been used in a wide range of situations from forests and fields to food stores and greenhouses.