What is an example of a microbial pesticide?

A microbial pesticide specifically refers to a pesticide that uses microorganisms—such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or their by-products—to control pests. Bacterial pest control agents, which fall under this category, utilize specific strains of bacteria to target and suppress pest populations. These agents often work by infecting or disrupting the life cycle of harmful organisms, providing a biological control method that is typically more environmentally friendly compared to synthetic chemicals.

In the context of pest control, products like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacterium used to target insect larvae, exemplify this type of microbial pesticide. They are selected for their specificity in targeting particular pests while having minimal impact on non-target species and beneficial organisms.

The other options represent different types of pesticides that do not fit the definition of microbial pesticides. Synthetic herbicides involve chemical compounds manufactured to inhibit plant growth, organic insect repellents refer to substances derived from natural sources to repel insects, and heavy metal fungicides encompass chemicals that contain metal elements and are used to prevent fungal infections in crops. None of these utilize microorganisms as their active ingredient for pest control, thus differentiating them from microbial pesticides.