Article
Article
Insect diseases
Article By:
Briggs, John D. Department of Entomology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.345900
Diseases that affect insects (class Insecta). Insect pathology draws upon and contributes to the general field of microbiology and provides understanding of certain of the biological relationships existing between insects and microorganisms not pathogenic to them. This discipline finds applications in agriculture, medicine, and biology generally. Microbial control, the use of microorganisms in biological control, is one area of applied insect pathology. Microorganisms are introduced to control insect pests for the protection of humans and other animals and agricultural crops. However, the suppression of disease in beneficial insects, such as the silkworm, honeybee, and ladybird beetle, is also of significant practical importance. See also: Insect control, biological; Insecta
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