Beyond the usual targets: pesticide and biopesticide interactions with natural enemies in ecological networks

Abstract

Pesticides (and biopesticides) remain a controversial yet indispensable tool against pest species that threaten human health and food security. Their effectiveness and ubiquitous use across global landscapes are offset by persistent concerns over health and environmental risks. However, such concerns are often biased, patchy, and prone to oversimplification, failing to reflect the complexity of modern anthropogenically altered ecosystems. Today, an ever-expanding diversity of compounds is used — frequently in mixtures subject to chemical interactions — affecting multiple biological processes and interacting organisms. This reality is poorly mirrored in current regulatory frameworks and societal perceptions, which continue to shape research agendas and priorities. Here, we redirect attention beyond the usual targets, moving past conventional pesticides and single natural enemies to shed light on a broad and often-overlooked web of interactions among natural enemies themselves. By shifting focus from mortality endpoints to interactions and cascading stress responses, we highlight a more realistic and nuanced understanding of pesticide and biopesticide effects in complex ecological networks.