This review presents up-to-date data on microsporidian infections in beneficial insects used to control agricultural pests. Among these biocontrol agents, microsporidia have been reported predominantly from hymenopteran parasitoids and predatory insects belonging to various orders, mainly Holometabola. Parasitoids can be infected by pathogens specific for their hosts or bear their own parasites. Infections with microsporidia may cause serious pathologic changes or remain benign, while still affecting population dynamics of the insect pests against which the biocontrol agents are applied.
Timofeev et al. (Wed,) studied this question.