Bio Enginered Pesticides
Bio Engineered Pesticides are either sprayed on leaves or inserted into the genetically engineered (GE) plant to affect or kill the insect.
Genetically Engineered Crops - Industry termed - Plant-Incorporated Protectants (PIPs)
Genetically engineered (GE) crops (corn, canola, cotton, potato, wheat) containing toxic genes from Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt). Every cell of the plant becomes an internal "pesticide factory." The endotoxins cannot be washed off or denatured by light cooking. There is a growing widespread insect resistance that has become a critical problem in Countries that grow GE crops.
RNAi / dsRNA Pesticides
Have been developed to bypass Bt resistance. These pesticides contain synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) transcribed from a DNA template. When the insect ingests the sprayed pesticide the dsRNA targets the pest's cells to silence specific genetic messages, resulting in sterility or death. They are termed "non-GE" when used as a spray because they do not enter the plant DNA, allowing them to bypass the strict regulatory oversight applied to living GE organisms. There is evidence, however, that RNA can reverse transcribe into DNA. RNA also has been found not to just code for proteins. As a new technology, there is limited data on long-term effects on non-target organisms or the ecological impact of sterilising insect populations.
This is a new and experimental pesticide development and below are the emerging research as can be read they are finding that dsRNA is not precise or safe to non- target insects.
2026
Norroa™ as a dsRNA biopesticide for Varroa destructor: insights from New Zealand research on mode of action, field efficacy, non−target effects, and social acceptance. (2026) Lester PJ, Bulgarella M, Manley B, Masucci JD, McGruddy RA, Merk J, Narva K, Palmer S, Mercier OR and Smeele Z. Front. Insect Sci. 6:1814622.
An RNA interference biopesticide reduces reproduction of the honey bee parasite Varroa destructor by down-regulating embryo development pathways.(2026) Smeele, Z.E., McGruddy, R.A., Baty, J.W., Manley, B., Narva, K., De Neef, E., Gordon, E.R., Devisetty, U.K., Youngs, K., Felden, A. and Lester, P.J. Pest Manag Sci, 82: 2694-2707.
Longevity and foraging performance of honey bees treated with an RNAi-based Varroa destructor biopesticide. (2026) Merk J, Anastasi M, McGruddy R, Manley B, Felden A, Lester PJ. Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 5;16(1):8208.
RT-qPCR detection of dsRNA pesticides: Optimization, limitations, and formulation effects, (2026) Koidou V. Tamvakologou E., Minlee K.M., Dimitrios G. et al. iScience,Vol: 29, Issue 7, 116428.
2025
Stability of naked and encapsulated dsRNA in water and on plant surfaces: Key data to inform environmental safety and toxicity assessments, (2025) Zarrabian M., and Sherif M. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety,
Vol: 305, 119272,
RNAi in Pest Control: Critical Factors Affecting dsRNA Efficacy. (2025) Mendoza-Alatorre M, Julian-Chávez B, Solano-Ornelas S, Siqueiros-Cendón TS, et al. Insects. 16(7):737.
RNAi epimutations conferring antifungal drug resistance are inheritable. (2025) Pérez-Arques, C., Navarro-Mendoza, M.I., Xu, Z. et al. Nat Commun16, 7293
Rootworm resistance to Bt associated with increased injury to corn pyramids combining Bt proteins and RNA interference. (2025) Tabashnik, B. E., & Carrière, Y. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Crop protection by RNA interference: a review of recent approaches, current state of developments and use as of 2013. (2025) Germing, K., Navarrete, C.A.D., Schiermeyer, A. et al. Environ Sci Eur 37, 15.
2024
What is Life and How does it work? (2025) Philip Ball. The Royal Institution, London. Excellent Video on DNA and RNA.
RNA interference as a next-generation control method for suppressing Varroa destructor reproduction in honey bee (Apis mellifera) hives. (2024) McGruddy, R.A., Smeele, Z.E., Manley, B., Masucci, J.D., Haywood, J. and Lester, P.J. Pest Manag Sci, 80: 4770-4778.
Mismatch between lab-generated and field-evolved resistance to transgenic Bt crops in
RNAi-based pest control: Production, application and the fate of dsRNA. (2022) He L, Huang Y and Tang X. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 10:1080576.
Strategies for the production of dsRNA biocontrols as alternatives to chemical pesticides. (2022) Hough J, Howard JD, Brown S, Portwood DE, Kilby PM, Dickman MJ. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 10;10:980592.
Calmodulin Activity Affects the Function of the Odorant Receptor AcerOr2 in Honeybees.(2022) Guo L, Xu B, Zhao H, Guo Y and Jiang Y. Front. Ecol. Evol. 10:848150.
Evaluating toxicity of Varroa mite (Varroa destructor)-active dsRNA to monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larvae. (2021) Krishnan N, Hall MJ, Hellmich RL, Coats JR, Bradbury SP. PLoS One.16(6):e0251884.
2023
Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by Varroa destructor. (2023) Smeele ZE, Baty JW, Lester PJ. Viruses 15(11): 2259
2020
RNA interference in honeybees: off-target effects caused by dsRNA. (2020) Jarosch A., Moritz R. Apidologie, 43 (2), pp.128-138.
A Transmissible RNA Pathway in Honey Bees (2019) Maori E, Garbian Y, Kunik V. Cell Reports, 27, 1949-1959.e6
RNA-based pesticides aim to get around resistance problems, (2020) Shaffer L. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.117 (52) 32823-32826,
2019
Should dsRNA treatments applied in outdoor environments be regulated? (20019) Heinemann JA. Environ Int. 132:104856.
Environmental Fate of RNA Interference Pesticides: Adsorption and Degradation of Double-Stranded RNA Molecules in Agricultural Soils. (2019) Parker KM, Barragán Borrero V, van Leeuwen DM, Lever MA, Mateescu B, Sander M. Environ Sci Technol. 53(6):3027-3036.
2018
Diverse Factors Affecting Efficiency of RNAi in Honey Bee Viruses. (2018) Yang D, Xu X, Zhao H, Yang S, Wang X, Zhao D, Diao Q and Hou C.Front. Genet. 9:384.
A genetically enhanced sterile insect technique against the fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis(Hendel) by feeding adult double-stranded RNAs. (2017)Ali, M.W., Zheng, W., Sohail, S. et al.Sci Rep 7<, 4063.