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Current Insights into Sublethal Effects of Pesticides on Insects

Summary

This comprehensive review examines how pesticides harm insects at doses that don’t immediately kill them. Sublethal pesticide exposure weakens insects’ immune systems, disrupts reproduction and development, and impairs critical behaviors like navigation, feeding, and learning. The research shows these effects vary by insect species, age, and exposure type, and that pesticide combinations can be far more harmful than individual chemicals alone.

Background

Insect populations have been declining globally, with pesticide use identified as a contributing factor. While acute and chronic pesticide toxicity are well-documented, sublethal doses have profound effects on insect physiology and behavior that are often overlooked. Currently, over 3 million tons of pesticides are applied annually to crops worldwide.

Objective

This review synthesizes current knowledge about sublethal effects of pesticides on insects, examining impacts on physiology and behavior. The review covers various physiological parameters including immune function, development, and reproduction, as well as behavioral effects such as mobility, feeding, navigation, and learning.

Results

Sublethal pesticide doses affect multiple physiological systems including immune suppression, altered development rates, reduced fecundity, and tissue damage. Behavioral effects include impaired mobility, reduced feeding efficiency, altered navigation and oviposition, and significantly decreased learning and memory. Effects are species-, dose-, age-, and sex-dependent, with synergistic interactions between pesticides and other stressors amplifying negative outcomes.

Conclusion

Sublethal pesticide effects contribute substantially to insect decline through multiple mechanisms affecting physiology and behavior. More comprehensive risk assessments incorporating complex parameters like behavior, fecundity, and memory in diverse insect species are needed. Development of sustainable pest control alternatives and investment in biological control methods are essential to reduce pesticide dependency.
  • Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
  • Study Type:Literature Review,
  • Source: PMID: 38892195, DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116007
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