Spraying pine logs with insecticide against Ips sexdentatus, a pine engraver beetle israelensis, a bacterium that infects and kills mosquito larvae, in local water sources. Biological control can be an important component of an integrated pest management programme.įor example: mosquitoes are often controlled by putting Bt Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. Ideally, the released organism will breed and survive, and provide long-term control. An alternative approach is to augment the natural enemies that occur in a particular area by releasing more, either in small, repeated batches, or in a single large-scale release. Classical biological control involves the introduction of natural enemies of the pest that are bred in the laboratory and released into the environment. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, parasitody or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. In agriculture, horticulture, and forestry Control methods Biological pest control īiological pest control: parasitoid wasp ( Cotesia congregata) adult with pupal cocoons on its host, a tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta (green background)īiological pest control is a method of controlling pests such as insects and mites by using other organisms. Chemical pest control is still the predominant type of pest control today, although a renewed interest in traditional and biological pest control developed towards the end of the 20th century and continues to this day. By the 1960s, problems of resistance to chemicals and damage to the environment began to emerge, and biological control had a renaissance. The introduction of DDT, a cheap and effective compound, put an effective stop to biological control experiments. In the 1880s, ladybirds were used in citrus plantations in California to control scale insects, and other biological control experiments followed. In 1762, an Indian mynah was brought to Mauritius to control locusts, and about the same time, citrus trees in Burma were connected by bamboos to allow ants to pass between them and help control caterpillars. Also around 4000 BC in China, ducks were used in paddy fields to consume pests, as illustrated in ancient cave art. īiological control is first recorded around 300 AD in China, when colonies of weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina, were intentionally placed in citrus plantations to control beetles and caterpillars. In the 20th century, the discovery of several synthetic insecticides, such as DDT, and herbicides boosted this development. With the industrialisation and mechanization of agriculture in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the introduction of the insecticides pyrethrum and derris, chemical pest control became widespread. This led the way to a widespread acceptance of insecticides across the continent. After much discussion, arsenical compounds were used to control the beetle and the predicted poisoning of the human population did not occur. Modern pest control was stimulated by the spread across the United States of the Colorado potato beetle. Red weaver ants, here feeding on a snail, have been used to control pests in China, Southeast Asia, and Africa for many centuries.Ĭhemical pesticides were first used around 2500 BC, when the Sumerians used sulphur compounds as insecticides. Alternatively, various methods of biological control can be used including sterilisation programmes.

Control of these pests is attempted through exclusion, repulsion, physical removal or chemical means. In homes and urban environments, the pests are the rodents, birds, insects and other organisms that share the habitat with humans, and that feed on and spoil possessions. Where possible, biological means are used, encouraging the natural enemies of the pests and introducing suitable predators or parasites. This can be achieved by monitoring the crop, only applying insecticides when necessary, and by growing varieties and crops which are resistant to pests. Ploughing and cultivation of the soil before sowing mitigate the pest burden and there is a modern trend to limit the use of pesticides as far as possible. In agriculture, pests are kept at bay by cultural, chemical and biological means. Pest control measures may be performed as part of an integrated pest management strategy. The human response depends on the importance of the damage done and will range from tolerance, through deterrence and management, to attempts to completely eradicate the pest. Pest control is the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, a member of the animal kingdom that impacts adversely on human activities. An agricultural aircraft applies low-insecticide bait against western corn rootworm.

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