biosurfactants produced by microbes are used to control pests . the biosurfactants can be produced by cultivating a biosurfactant - producing microbe , producing a fermentation broth , and obtaining the biosurfactant from the fermentation broth . alternately , the biosurfactants can be produced in situ in the environment of the pests by applying a carbon substrate to the pests &# 39 ; environment , which permits naturally - occurring biosurfactant - producing microbes to grow and to generate the biosurfactants . the biosurfactants have pesticidal qualities , and can be used to control a variety of pests , while being biodegradable and otherwise avoiding adverse environmental effects that have often been associated with conventional synthetic pesticides .