MICROBIAL AND BOTANICAL: THE POTENTIAL SUBSTITUTES OF SYNTHETIC INSECTICIDES IN THE CONTROL OF AFRICAN RICE STEM BORER SPECIES

Various stem borer species have been considered threats to rice production in Africa causing considerable yield losses depending on the type of stem borer species damaging the crop. The use of synthetic insecticides has been reported to be effective against stem borer problems but misuse and abuse make it unsuccessfully in the control of these stem borer species. Insect pest control has changed for a long time from using chemicals to natural control methods. Such natural methods include the use of microbial insecticides, e.g. Entomo-pathogenic fungi, Entomo-pathogenic bacteria, Entomo-pathogenic viruses, Entomopathogenic protozoa, and Entomo-pathogenic nematodes, and the use of botanical from different parts of plants, e.g. root, leave and seed extracts. This review introduces important issues on stem borer species, and the potential of different microbial pesticides and botanical extracts for the management of rice stem borers. These important issues that will be discussed include; different sources of microbial biopesticides and or /plant-based biopesticides (botanicals), their potential in the control of rice stem borers, and their mode of action. Microbial and plant-based biopesticides are important alternatives to synthetic insecticides due to their safety to the environment particularly human health and natural enemies.