Pesticides are used in agriculture to control weeds, insect infestations, and plant diseases. There are many different types of pesticides, each designed to target specific pests. However, pesticide use is not without risk; they can cause significant harm to the environment, flora, fauna, and people.
The long-term effects of pesticides can be grouped into three categories: direct effects on the exposed person, including infertility, aplastic anemia, cancer, and various disorders; effects observed in offspring, such as teratogenesis, mutagenesis, and changes to the immune or nervous systems; and indirect ecosystem impacts that can affect biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Because of these risks, researchers have explored alternatives for decades. Efforts focus on reducing pesticide use through methods that control pests, diseases, and weeds without harming humans or the environment. These approaches include biological control, which uses living organisms to limit pest populations.
Entomopathogenic nematode worms parasitize insects and have long featured in biological control programs for agriculture. Nematodes in the Steinernema family were identified a century ago and are not harmful to humans or other mammals.
Some nematode species have a broad host range, with Steinernema carpocapsae capable of infecting about 200 insect species, while others are highly specific; Steinernema scapterisci, for example, infects insects within the order Orthoptera.
In laboratory settings, the host range of nematodes can be wider than in the field, and transfer to the field is not always direct. Yet species found in natural environments adapt well to local conditions and often prove effective against current pests.
biological control agents
Researchers at the University of California Riverside have identified new Steinernema worm species that can infect and kill insects. In particular, these tiny worms show promise for controlling crop pests in warm, humid environments where other beneficial nematodes struggle to thrive.
Future studies should explore the potential hosts of Steinernema Adamsi, a species that has not yet been fully investigated, to enhance the effectiveness of biological control.
One clear finding is that Steinernema Adamsi can kill insects. In experiments, infected moths died within two days at a very low worm dose, suggesting strong pest-control potential. Given that this genus can infect hundreds of insect species, researchers are optimistic about its usefulness, whether as a parasite or as a biological control agent.
Next steps include identifying the unique traits of this nematode, such as heat tolerance, ultraviolet resistance, dryness resilience, and the full insect range it can affect.
Specimens of the new nematode species were documented and may advance future biological control efforts in climates similar to Thailand and other warm, humid regions.
Experts note that there are more than 100 Steinernema species, and ongoing searches for new species continue because each one may offer advantages in different climates or against specific insects. This discovery adds to the understanding of nematode diversity and their roles in soil ecology and nutrient cycling.
The finding is celebrated for its potential to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides while expanding knowledge about the ecological and evolutionary relationships among parasites, pathogens, hosts, and environmental microbiomes.
Researchers emphasize the excitement of discovering an additional biological tool that could perform well in environments where currently available beneficial nematodes do not thrive, potentially broadening pest-management options in challenging climates.
Reference report: Steinernema Adamsi N-Sp RH ABDITIDA, Journal of Parasitology, 110(1):22.
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