biopestisit

Biopesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials such as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. They tend to be less toxic than conventional synthetic pesticides and are biodegradable, meaning they break down quickly and do not accumulate in the environment. Biopesticides work in more specific ways than conventional pesticides, meaning they often affect only the target pest and its close relatives, while leaving other organisms unharmed. This specificity can help protect beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife.

The primary types of biopesticides include biochemical pesticides, which are naturally occurring substances that control pests through non-toxic mechanisms like mating disruption or attractants; microbial pesticides, which consist of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses, or protozoa as the active ingredient; and plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs), which are pesticidal substances that plants produce from genetic material incorporated into the plant itself. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a common bacterium used in microbial pesticides to control insect larvae. Many plants also produce their own natural pesticides, such as neem oil extracted from the neem tree. The development and use of biopesticides are part of an integrated pest management approach, aiming to reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals. They are often used in organic farming and in situations where the environmental impact of traditional pesticides is a concern.