Toxicological considerations for biologically based insecticides

North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America

1999 Annual Meeting 28mar99

J. Neal, Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Contact e-mail: jonathan_neal@entm.purdue.edu

ABSTRACT
Biologically based insecticides have been promoted as potentially safer to use and less harmful for the environment. However, critical evaluation of the toxicological properties of biologically based insecticides reveals that they are not exempt from concerns. A number of examples clearly demonstrate that biologically based insecticides may have unexpected, undesirable properties. It is not surprising that toxicological considerations are more dependent upon the biological properties of the agent and how it is deployed than its source of origin. This presentation reviews several classes of biologically based insecticides, their toxicological properties and advantages and disadvantages of pursuing a biologically based insecticide approach.