The need for the application of modern chemical insecticides and environmental consequences of their use: A mini review

Abstract

Currently, the use of insecticides is an acute problem. Due to rapid population growth, the primary task is to increase food production. Beyond abiotic factors (drought, soil salinity, etc.) that reduce crop yields, farmers face problems with insect pests that can decrease crop productivity up to 60%. Also, insects are carriers of severe viral and protozoan human diseases. The need for application of insecticides is not questioned but many of them cause resistance of insect pests to them. This, in turn, leads to the necessity to invent new insecticides that are safe and more effective for long-term use. Preparations based on conservative parts of nucleic acids, particularly contact DNA insecticides, could be used to solve insecticide resistance problem as control agents which are well-tailored to target insect pests. This mini review is devoted to these issues. © 2017 De Gruyter Open Ltd. All rights reserved.