What is biological control?

Biological Control Traditionally was an approach for integrated pest management which includes biological control. It is characterised as the control of pest populations by natural enemies and usually entails a proactive human role. Remember that all bug species are repressed without any human involvement by naturally occurring organisms and environmental circumstances. Oftentimes, this is referred to as natural control. Although the biological control of insects is the focus of this manual, biological management of weeds and plant diseases is also covered. Predators, parasitoids, and diseases are examples of natural enemies of insect pests, commonly referred to as biological control agents.

Biological weed control uses diseases and insects. Abiotic antagonists are the most popular term used to describe biological plant disease control agents. The most significant and most accessible biological control strategy available to growers is undoubtedly the conservation of natural enemies. All production systems, from the household garden to the commercial field, have natural adversaries. Their conservation is typically easy and affordable because they are adapted to the local area and the target pest. It is pretty easy to keep an eye on these natural adversaries' activity. Aphid colonies almost always contain lacewings, lady beetles, hover fly larvae, and parasitized aphid mummies. Adult flies afflicted with fungus are frequently observed after periods of excessive humidity.

When making judgments on pest management, these natural controls must be respected and taken into account. In many cases, natural enemies' significance has not been sufficiently investigated or is not discovered until insecticide use is halted or reduced. Sometimes all we can do is acknowledge their existence and try to have as little of an impact as possible on them. Every effort should be made to utilise a selective material in a selective manner if an insecticide is required.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)?

Q. Give an example of biological control.

Ans. Examples of biological control include Tetracnemus pretiosus and Coccophagus gurneyi, two parasitic species of chalcid wasps brought from Australia that decimated the citrophilus mealybug in California.