Submitted to: Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2025
Publication Date: 10/23/2025
Citation: Isman, M., Norris, E.J. 2025. Bioinsecticide synergy: the good, the bad and the unknown. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. 42(100583). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100583.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100583

Interpretive Summary: Synergy between certain conventional chemical insecticides has been known for decades, but heightened awareness and interest in bioinsecticides (microbials, botanicals and arthropod venoms) have led to numerous studies demonstrating synergy between bioinsecticides and conventional insecticides, between different bioinsecticides, and among specific constituents in botanicals that are themselves chemically complex. At the same time, bioinsecticides have often been shown to be less harmful to non-target organisms, especially natural enemies and pollinators, but not entirely without negative impacts. However, the influence of synergy among these compounds, mixtures of bioinsecticides, or combinations of bioinsecticides and conventional insecticides in non-target species has been relatively unexplored to date. While under-explored, it is possible that these bioinsecticides may produce some synergism of various insecticidal agents on non-target organisms, but more work will be needed to assess this thoroughly.

Technical Abstract: Synergy between certain conventional chemical insecticides has been known for decades, but heightened awareness and interest in bioinsecticides (microbials, botanicals and arthropod venoms) have led to numerous studies demonstrating synergy between bioinsecticides and conventional insecticides, between different bioinsecticides, and among specific constituents in botanicals that are themselves chemically complex. At the same time, bioinsecticides have often been shown to be less deleterious to non-target organisms, especially natural enemies and pollinators, but not entirely without negative impacts. However, the influence of synergy among these compounds, mixtures of bioinsecticides, or combinations of bioinsecticides and conventional insecticides in non-target species has been relatively unexplored to date. The taxonomic diversity of target (pest) insects for which such synergy has been documented suggests, at the least, that this action may occur in non-target species as well, although the impact of such synergy on non-targets under actual field conditions is currently difficult to predict.