U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research: Wapato, WA
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Facilities
                        USDA Laboratory in Wapato, WA
                                    USDA Prosser Worksite
                                    USDA Moxee Farm
                    About UsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Pacific West Area Wapato, Washington Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Lacey, Lawrenceitem
                                            Siegel, Joel
  Submitted to: Entomopathogenic Bacteria from Laboratory to Field Application
                                    Publication Type: Book / Chapter
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/1999
                                    Publication  Date: 6/20/2000
                                    Citation: Lacey, L.A., Siegel, J.P. 2000. Safety and ecotoxicology of entomopathogenic bacteria. Entomopathogenic Bacteria from Laboratory to Field Application. p. 253-273.Interpretive Summary: Control of insect pests is traditionally accomplished using conventional chemical insecticides.  Concerns about their effects on humans and the environment will limit the availability of chemical insecticides in the near future.  Microbial insecticides provide alternatives to chemical insecticides and avoid  environmental contamination.  For the most part they do not affect  beneficial insects.  Our chapter discusses the usefulness of bacteria for control of insect pests and their safety to vertebrates and beneficial insects.  The bacterium used most for insect control is Bacillus thuringiensis.  Although it is specific for insects, some insects related to target insects may be affected.  Also, repeated use of the bacterium within an environment may change the ecology of that environment.  The  smaller the group of insects that are affected and the more complex the environment, the less likely permanent change will result from using bacteria for insect control.
                                Technical Abstract: The bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, has been used extensively in crops, forests, and aquatic habitats for control of pest insects.  Its safety and that of other insect specific bacteria for vertebrates and nontarget invertebrates have been reported in hundreds of studies.  Short term effects on nontarget organisms  that are unrelated to target insects is negligible.  However, the effect of repeated applications on most ecosystems is relatively unknown.  It is likely that any regular disruption of large insect communities, due to chemical or microbial insecticides, could have long term negative effects on ecosystem structure. The more diversified the ecosystem, the less likely that control of a single species will result in catastrophic consequences. The more species a given control method affects, the greater the  likelihood of altering the ecosystem.  The impact of microbial control bacteria should be evaluated in light of the risk for nontarget organisms in comparison with other interventions and the effect no treatment at all will have on an ecosystem.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov