What is Biological Pest Control?
Biological pest control reduces the pest population by using natural enemies and involves an active human role. This form of pest control reduces the pest population safely and economically. Not only are natural enemies used, but also cultural practices such as crop rotation, tillage, timing of planting or harvesting and many other forms. This is different from natural pest control such as heavy winds and rain that have no human role. Biological pest control uses natural enemies and judicious practices of pesticides to get the work done.
Who Are The Natural Enemies?
These natural enemies, which are also known as biological control agents, are predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. Biological control for weeds includes insects and pathogens, and the agents of plant diseases are known as antagonists.
The Lady Beetle is being a natural enemy and preying
Predators→ Predators hunt and kill their prey which is a form of biological control. Some kinds of predators include: lady beetles, which consume soft bodied pests such as aphids and lacewings consume a number of prey throughout their lives.
Parasitoids→Some parasitic insects like wasps and some flies normally lay their eggs on the body of a certain insect then kill the host.
Pathogens→ Pathogens can drastically reduce a pest’s population in nature. Some examples include disease-causing organisms like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These viruses are in tobacco budworm, and corn earworm. Fungi is in alfalfa weevil, potato leafhopper and green cloverworm.
Weed-Feeders→ Weed-Feeders do exactly what it sounds like. They feed on weeds to keep them controlled! Researchers first determine feed on the specific pest species and they are good colonizers so they thrive wherever they are. In the U.S. “it is estimated that 50% to 75% of problem weeds were either accidental or intentional introductions from other areas.”
There are 3 types of biological control
Conservation→ This process includes integrating beneficial insects back into crop systems. Natural enemies are common for all places growing and planting. Some examples of natural enemies are hoverfly larvae and fungus adult flies follow periods of high humidity.
Classical biological control→ Many of the pests necessary for this process are exotic so they are imported to “reunite” the pests to their natural control agents. This specific process involves many studies to understand which specific natural enemies are necessary.
Augmentation→ This is the process of adding natural enemies to a new environment whether it involves finding these natural enemies and moving them over or buying the specific natural enemy for the environment.
Conserving Beneficial Insects!
When looking at insects, one needs to recognize which ones are beneficial! This means when looking for natural enemies purchasing them is not always necessary. Many use term farmscaping, the creation of habitat to enhance the chances for survival and reproduction of beneficial organisms. This can be done by minimizing insecticide applications and providing pollen and nectar sources. All these ways of conserving natural enemies are sustainable to the environment where these plants and crops are present.
How Does Biological Pest Control Affect Our Environment?
Biological control and chemical control are the most used forms of removing pests and diseases. The use of chemicals was an environment risk for crops and farming because of the copious amounts of toxins use. Biological control was the smartest shift for the environment. Caltagirone and Huffaker even stated “when it is the result of a well thought out, carefully executed program, is in our opinion, risk-free.” One component that can be seen as a con is that biological control is irreversible but with enough studies and research this would not be considered a problem.
This image shows the toxins from using chemical control.
In conclusion there are pros and cons to chemical and biological control depending on the situation, but biological will always be the most environmentally friendly option.
Bibliography
“Background Information.” BIREA: Environmental Risks of Biological Control, b3.net.nz/birea/index.php?page=background_risks.
Barbercheck, Mary E. “Biological Control of Insect Pests.” EOrganic, 23 Sept. 2019, eorganic.org/node/919.
HiCare. “Different Types of Biological Pest Control Agents.” Hicare, 10 Feb. 2020, hicare.in/blog/different-types-biological-pest-control-agents/.
“How to Control Pests and Diseases? Biological vs. Chemical.” How to Control Pests and Diseases? Biological vs. Chemical | CANNA UK, www.canna-uk.com/how_control_pests_and_diseases_biological_vs_chemical.
“Integrated Pest Management.” Lady Beetles – CT Integrated Pest Management Program, ipm.uconn.edu/documents/raw2/html/865.php?aid=865.
Jones, Moneen M. “Biological Pest Control.” University of Missouri Extension, extension2.missouri.edu/ipm1034.
“Weed-Feeders.” Weed-Feeders, biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/weed.php.
Blog posted by: Karina Cedillo