Abstract
In recent years, there has been a significant surge in the utilization of biorational insecticides, which are crafted from natural sources such as animals, plants, microbes, and minerals, or their derivatives. This growth has been particularly pronounced in the application of neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and growth hormones in insects for pest control. Consequently, these biorational insecticides have gained a substantial market share in the global insecticide industry. The general consensus that conventional insecticides are harmful to ecosystems and human health has contributed significantly to the recent uptick in the usage of biorational insecticides. Nevertheless, the concept of replacing synthetic pesticides with biorational alternatives without thoroughly examining their potential unintended consequences may lead to misguided usage and reduce the longevity of these pest management solutions. Neglecting the potential adverse impacts of biorational products on both human health and the environment represents a prevalent bias, as evidenced by a comprehensive systematic literature review spanning the past decade. This includes but is not limited to mortality and adverse sublethal effects observed in pollinators, as well as beneficial arthropods such as parasitoids and predators. Hence, it is imperative to reassess the possible risks associated with the utilization of biorational substances in pest management initiatives, considering factors like control inefficacies, the development of resistance, alterations in dominance, and the emergence of secondary or significant pest outbreaks. Future prospects for using biorational products in pest management, as well as the inadequacies of current regulatory systems, are highlighted in this chapter.
