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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #406812
Research Project: Biological Control for Management of Invasive Pest Management, Emphasizing Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Spotted Wing Drosophila and other Invasive Insect Pests of Crops

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Pesticide immunotoxicity on insects – Are agroecosystems at risk?

Author
item LISI, FABRIZIO - University Of Catania
item AMICHOT, MARCEL - National Council For Scientific Research-Cnrs
item DESNEUX, NICOLAS - National Council For Scientific Research-Cnrs
item GATTI, JEAN-LUC - National Council For Scientific Research-Cnrs
item RAUL NARCISO, GUEDES - Federal University Of Viçosa
item NAZZI, FRANCESCO - University Of Udine
item PENNACCHIO, FRANCESCO - University Of Naples
item RUSSO, AGATINO - University Of Catania
item SÁNCHEZ-BAYO, FRANCISCO - University Of Sydney
item Wang, Xingeng
item LUCIA, ZAPPALA - University Of Catania
item ANTONIO, BIONDI - University Of Catania

Submitted to: Science of the Total Environment
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2024
Publication Date: 8/23/2024
Citation: Lisi, F., Amichot, M., Desneux, N., Gatti, J., Raul Narciso, G.C., Nazzi, F., Pennacchio, F., Russo, A., Sánchez-Bayo, F., Wang, X., Lucia, Z., Antonio, B. 2024. Pesticide immunotoxicity on insects – Are agroecosystems at risk?. Science of the Total Environment. 951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175467.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175467

Interpretive Summary: Immunotoxicity refers to any adverse effect on the structure or function of the immune system, or on other systems as a result of immune system dysfunction. The review summarizes the current knowledge on the immunotoxicological impact of pesticides on target and non-target organisms. Results are discussed with respect to the applied impact on the integrated management of pests, preservation of beneficials and possible consequences at the level of the biotic community.

Technical Abstract: Recent years have witnessed heightened scrutiny of the non-target sublethal effects of pesticides on behavioural and physiological traits of insects. Traditionally, attention has focused on investigating pesticides’ primary modes of action, often overlooking the potential secondary mechanisms. This review brings forth the nuanced impacts of sublethal pesticide exposure on the immune system of target and non-target insect species. Pesticides, such as neonicotinoids, suppress immune response, while others, like certain organophosphates and some insect growth regulators (IGRs), appear to bolster immunocompetence. Beyond their individual impacts, the synergic effects of pesticide mixtures on insect immunity are garnering increasing interest. This review thus summarizes recent advances in the immunomodulatory effects of pesticides, detailing both mechanisms and consequences of such interactions. The implications of these effects for ecosystem preservation and viability of beneficial organisms, like pollinators and natural enemies of pests, are discussed. The review also considers further research directions on pesticide secondary modes of action and explores potential implications for integrated pest management (IPM) programs, as several model organisms studied are crop pest species. While current data provide an expansive overview of how insect innate immunity is modulated, concrete endpoints remain elusive requiring further research into pesticide secondary modes of actions.