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An emerging risk to pest biocontrol: Polyethylene microplastic affects the efficacy of Arma chinensis and Beauveria bassiana against Hyphantria cunea
Summary
Scientists found that microplastic pollution disrupts nature's own pest control system: it weakens beneficial predator insects that eat crop-damaging pests, while actually helping a pest-killing fungus work better. This matters because farmers rely on these natural predators instead of chemical pesticides, so as microplastics build up in soil and plants, our food system's natural defenses against pests could become less effective—potentially leading to more crop damage or increased pesticide use.
Microplastic pollution has emerged as a significant environmental concern attracting global attention. In this study, trophic grade models of "soil-Betula platyphylla-Hyphantria cunea-Arma chinensis" and "soil-B. platyphylla-H. cunea-Beauveria bassiana" contaminated by polyethylene microplastic at high level concentrations were constructed, and control efficacy of A. chinensis and B. bassiana on H. cunea under polyethylene pollution was explored. Results showed that after feeding on H. cunea larvae of polyethylene treatment group, A. chinensis nymphs exhibited significant reductions in growth and development, elevated levels of HO and MDA, upregulated expression of apoptosis-related genes, and inhibited predatory behavior and searching ability. The nutritional value of the larvae to A. chinensis was diminished, as indicated by reduced glucose, protein, and free fatty acid levels, along with decreased expression of energy metabolism-related genes in larvae exposed to polyethylene stress. Moreover, polyethylene treatment augmented the lethality of B. bassiana against H. cunea. Polyethylene treatment resulted in disorganized epidermal laminar structures, downregulated expression of epidermal synthesis-related genes, compromised cellular immunity and humoral immune function in H. cunea larvae. In conclusion, polyethylene microplastic act as environmental pollutants that respectively negatively and positively affect the pest control efficacy of natural enemy insects and pathogenic fungi, highlighting the ecotoxicological impacts of microplastic pollution.