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It has been used most for introduced or “exotic” pests. This is the “classical method” of using biological control. Conservation and enhancement of natural enemies already present in the system can be a very effective method of biological control. The importance of natural enemies is often not appreciated until a broad spectrum pesticide, which kills many beneficials as well as the targeted pest, is applied and a new pest – suddenly released from biological control – becomes a serious problem.
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Many predators, parasites and pathogens occur naturally and are continually working to help keep nature in balance. However, most biological control occurs without assistance from people. Most successes have been in perennial crops (orchards, vineyards), rangeland, and field or forage crops which can withstand a moderate level of pest injury.īiological control agents can be purchased from commercial suppliers and released for supplementary control of pests.Good tactic to include in a multi-tactic approach (IPM) fits in well with cultural, mechanical, and some chemical controls.Often a lag time between buildup of the pest population and buildup of the biocontrol agent (see Fig.Often pest-specific, not broad-spectrum.Suppressive effects are density-dependent it will have its greatest impact when pest densities are high.Can be disrupted by other pest management tactics, especially broad-spectrum pesticides.Often relatively inexpensive and can be “permanent” for those biocontrol agents that can survive multiple years and become self-perpetuating.Therefore, biological control alone is not a means by which to obtain pest eradication (Fig 1). Herbivorous insects and pathogens that attack pest weeds are also considered biocontrol agents.īiological control is a part of natural control and can apply to any type of organism, pest or not, and regardless of whether the biocontrol agent occurs naturally, is introduced by humans, or manipulated in any way.īiological control differs from chemical, cultural, and mechanical controls in that it requires maintenance of some level of food supply (e.g., pest) in order for the biocontrol agent to survive and flourish. “Any activity of one species that reduces the adverse effect of another.” In pest management, biological control usually refers to the action of parasites, predators or pathogens on a pest population which reduces its numbers below a level causing economic injury. Natural controls include effects of natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens), other biotic (living) factors such as food availability and competition, and abiotic (non-living) factors such as weather and soil.
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In many cases, natural enemies are the primary regulating force of the pest populations. “Balance of Nature.” Virtually all pest populations are affected by natural enemies to some extent.
Biocontrol agents examples pdf#
Print pdf version of article General Concepts of Biological Controlĭiane Alston, Extension Entomologist Definitions Natural Control