Compositions and methods for control of insect infestations in plants

The composition further comprises one or more additives that are selected from adhesives, humectants, and UV protectors for foliar application. Claim 1: A pesticidal composition comprising double-stranded RNA (dsRNA or dsRNA) that functions when ingested by a pest of one plant inhibiting the expression of a target sequence of said pest, characterized in that said composition is applied topically to a plant and is provided in the diet of said pest. Claim 4: The composition of claim 1, characterized in that said pest of a plant is a pest belonging to the Coleoptera that is selected from the group consisting of a pest of Diabrotica spp., A pest of Leptinotarsa ​​spp., A pest of Tribolium spp., A pest of Anthonomous spp., A pest of Ciclocephala spp. and a plague of Poliphaga spp. Claim 15: The method of claim 7, characterized in that said plant comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes at least a first insecticidal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis. Claim16: The method of claim 14, characterized in that said Bacilius thuringiensis insecticidal protein is selected from the group consisting of a Cry1, a Cry3, a TIC86, a CryET70, a Cry22, a binary insecticidal protein CryET33 and CryET34, a binary insecticidal protein CryET80 and CryET76, a binary insecticidal protein TIC100 and TIC101, a binary insecticidal protein PS14B1, a VIP insecticidal protein, a TIC900 protein or other related protein, a TIC901, a TIC1201, a TIC407, a TIC417, and an insecticidal chimera thereof.