| abstract |
Provided herein are agents, compositions and methods for altering the level, activity or metabolism of one or more microorganisms resident in an agricultural pest, eg, a host insect (eg, an agricultural pest), wherein the alteration comprises Provide medicaments, compositions and methods that result in reduced fitness of the host. The invention features compositions that include an agent (eg, a phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combination thereof) that can alter the host bacterial flora in a manner detrimental to the host. By disrupting microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism and / or microbial diversity, the agents described herein can reduce the fitness of various insects that are considered agricultural pests. [Selection] Fig. 2A |