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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419233
Research Project: Mass Production of Insects for Biological Control of Arthropod Pests and as Food Sources

Location: Biological Control of Pests Research

Title: Evaluating the effects of flavonoids on insects: Implications for managing pests without harming beneficials.

Author
item Riddick, Eric

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2024
Publication Date: 12/1/2024
Citation: Riddick, E.W. 2024. Evaluating the effects of flavonoids on insects: Implications for managing pests without harming beneficials.. Insects. 15, 956.

Interpretive Summary: Flavonoids have served as secondary metabolites to deter attacks from some plant feeding insects. The hypothesis that flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides can be utilized to manage pest insects without negatively affecting beneficial insects was evaluated. Scientific literature databases were examined. Data were compiled in tables, synthesized, and subjected to statistical analysis, when appropriate. Flavonoids were harmful to most true bugs and true flies, but harmless to bees. Flavonoid glycosides were harmful to true bugs and true flies, but harmless to sawflies. Flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides caused a mixture of harmful and harmless outcomes to plant feeding beetles, as well as butterflies. In conclusion, flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides have great potential as biocides against some pests without harming beneficials, but field testing is needed.

Technical Abstract: Flavonoids have served multiple functions including host plant defense against attacks from herbivorous insects. This manuscript reviewed and synthesized the scientific literature to test the hypothesis that flavonoids can be utilized to manage pests without causing significant harm to beneficials. Methodology involved using recognized literature databases, e.g., Web of Science, Scopus, and CAB Abstracts, via the USDA-ARS, National Agricultural Library, DigiTop literature retrieval system (https://digitop.nal.usda.gov). Data were compiled in tables and subjected to statistical analysis, when appropriate. Flavonoids were generally harmful to true bugs and true flies, but harmless to bees. Flavonoid glycosides were generally harmful to true bugs and true flies, but harmless to sawflies. Flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides produced a mixture of harmful and harmless outcomes to herbivorous beetles, depending on species, and butterflies. In conclusion, specific flavonoids functioned as feeding stimulants or deterrents, oviposition stimulants or deterrents, chemical protectants from UV-light and pesticides, mating attractants, less toxic biocides, and other functions. Flavonoids can be used to manage some insect pests without causing significant harm to beneficials (e.g., honey bees). Flavonoid-based biocides could serve as environmentally benign alternatives to broad spectrum insecticides against some pest species.