Broad Spectrum Biopesticides Comprising Beneficial Microorganisms
The subject invention provides biopesticide compositions and their use in controlling a broad spectrum of pests, including arthropods, bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, parasites, nematodes, and/or pests that act as disease vectors. The compositions of the subject invention utilize beneficial microorganisms to target one or more pests that cause harm and/or damage to humans, animals, plants, and/or man-made structures, such as homes. In certain embodiments, the compositions comprise at least one species of entomopathogenic fungus.
1 . A biopesticide composition comprising a beneficial microorganism and/or growth by-products thereof, chitinase and/or a chitinase inducer, an abrasive substance, and a hemolymph anticoagulant, wherein the microorganism is selected from Trichoderma, Debaryomyces, Pichia, Wickerhamomyces, Meyerozyma, Bacillus , myxobacteria, Pseudomonas, Azotobacter , and species of entomopathogenic fungi.
2 . The biopesticide composition of claim 1 , comprising at least one species of entomopathogenic fungus.
3 . The biopesticide composition of claim 3 , wherein the species of entomopathogenic fungus is a member of Metarhizium, Beauveria, Cordyceps, Entomophaga, Entomophthora, Hirsutella, Isaria ( Paecilomyces ), Lecanicillium, Nomuraea, Pandora, Purpureocillium , or Zoopththora.
4 . The biopesticide composition of claim 4 , comprising Metarhizium anisopliae.
5 . The biopesticide composition of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive substance is diatomaceous earth and/or pumice powder.
6 . The biopesticide composition of claim 1 , wherein the hemolymph anticoagulant is selected from ascorbic acid and phenylthiourea.
7 . The biopesticide composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more growth by-products are biosurfactants selected from glycolipids, lipopeptides, fatty acid ester compounds, fatty acid ether compounds, flavolipids, phospholipids, lipoproteins, lipopolysaccharide-protein complexes, and polysaccharide-protein-fatty acid complexes.
8 . The biopesticide composition of claim 8 , wherein the biosurfactants are sophorolipids and/or rhamnolipids.
9 . A method for controlling a pest, the method comprising contacting a biopesticide composition comprising a beneficial microorganism and/or a growth by-product thereof, chitinase and/or a chitinase inducer, an abrasive substance, and a hemolymph anticoagulant, with the pest,
wherein the microorganism is selected from Trichoderma, Debaryomyces, Pichia, Wickerhamomyces, Meyerozyma, Bacillus , myxobacteria, Pseudomonas, Azotobacter , and species of entomopathogenic fungi.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the pest is an arthropod or a nematode.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the pest is a disease vector.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the biopesticide composition comprises at least one species of entomopathogenic fungus.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the species of entomopathogenic fungus is a member of Metarhizium, Beauveria, Cordyceps, Entomophaga, Entomophthora, Hirsutella, Isaria ( Paecilomyces ), Lecanicillium, Nomuraea, Pandora, Purpureocillium , or Zoopththora.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the species of entomopathogenic fungus is Metarhizium anisopliae.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the abrasive substance is diatomaceous earth and/or pumice powder.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the hemolymph anticoagulant is selected from ascorbic acid and phenylthiourea.
17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the growth by-products comprise a biosurfactant.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the biosurfactant is a sophorolipid or a rhamnolipid.
19 . The method of claim 9 , wherein contacting the biopesticide composition with the one or more pests comprises applying the composition directly to the pest via spraying and/or fogging.
20 . The method of claim 9 , wherein contacting the biopesticide composition with the one or more pests comprises applying the composition to a surface upon which the pest traverses, rests, mates, lays eggs and/or feeds.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the surface is a soil, a plant, or a plant part.
22 . (canceled)
23 . The method of claim 9 , wherein damage to, and disease in, plants caused by a pest is inhibited, prevented and/or reduced.
24 . The method of claim 9 , wherein contacting the pesticidal composition with the pest comprises applying the composition to an insect trap having a chemical attractant, pheromone and/or visual lure therein.