Microsporidia Biological Control Agents and Pathogens of Beneficial Insects

Microsporidian infections of insects are generally chronic, causing subtle pathologies of reduced fecundity and shorter life spans. The lack of acute infections that cause rapid mortality makes microsporidia ill suited as biopesticides for arthropod control. Instead, they are considered to be more useful as long-term regulators of pests and contribute toward the prevention and/or suppression of pest outbreaks. However, the chronic and debilitating nature associated with the infections makes microsporidia important pathogens of beneficial arthropods that are used for biological pest control. Microsporidia infect beneficial arthropods that regulate pest populations in nature as well as natural enemies that are mass-reared in commercial insectaries. Microsporidia are also common among laboratory-reared beneficial arthropods and often cause chronic disease that reduces host fitness an