What is Biological pesticide?

Biopesticides, a contraction of 'biological pesticides', include several types of pest management intervention:

1. Microbial pesticides
2. Biochemical pesticides
3. Plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs)
4. RNAi pesticides

Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals, Biopesticides are biological or biologically-derived agents, that are usually applied in a manner similar to chemical pesticides, but achieve pest management in an environmentally friendly way. All pest management products, especially microbial pesticides, effective control requires appropriate formulation and application is necessary.

Biopesticides for use against crop diseases have already established themselves on a variety of crops. And the major growth area for biopesticides is in the area of seed treatments and soil amendments.

Advantage:
1. Biopesticides are usually inherently less toxic than conventional pesticides
2. Biopesticides generally affect only the target pest and closely related organisms, in contrast to broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may affect organisms as different as birds, insects and mammals.
3. Biopesticides often are effective in very small quantities and often decompose quickly, resulting in lower exposures and largely avoiding the pollution problems caused by conventional pesticides
4. When used as a component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, biopesticides can greatly reduce the use of conventional pesticides, while crop yields remain high.

To use biopesticides effectively and safely, users need to know a great deal about managing pests and must carefully follow all label directions.