Emerging entomopathogenic bacteria for insect pest management

The scientific community working in the field of insect pathology is experiencing an increasing academic and industrial interest in the discovery and development of new bioinsecticides as environmentally friendly pest control tools to be integrated, in combination or rotation, with chemicals in pest management programmes. In this scientific context, market data report a 15% annual growth of the biopesticide segment. This trend is in line with the requirements of new regulations on Integrated Pest Management. After few decades of research on microbial pest management dominated by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), novel bacterial species are being discovered and developed into new products. With the aim to give a timely picture of the cutting-edge advancements in this renewed research field, different representative cases are reported, especially including Brevibacillus laterosporus, Chromobacterium subtsugae and Yersinia entomophaga.