Biological Control Principles Natural Control Biological Control Definition
Biological Control Principles
Natural Control
Biological Control Definition “The use of living organisms to suppress the population of a specific pest organism, making it less abundant or less damaging than it would otherwise be” (Eilenberg et al. , 2001)
Biological Control
Predators • Feed on all stages of prey • Predators kill more than one individual • Not highly specialized • Chewing and sucking predators • More than half are Coleoptera
Parasitoids • Endo and Ecto parasitoids • Parasitoid larvae are the ones feeding • Solitary or gregarious • Multiple parasitism • Superparasitism • Egg, larval, pupal and adult parasitoids
Parasitoids can alter host behavior
Parasitoids can alter host behavior
Bio-control is Diverse!
Pathogens • • • Bacteria Fungi Viruses Nematodes Protozoa
Pathogens • Survive longer in the field but have low virulence • Biological alternative to chemical insecticides
Bacteria Out of all, Bacillus thurigiensis is the most used • 1921: reported in Japan. • 1940 s: Commercial prep. Available in France Crystals containing poison • 39% of biopesticides • Lep, Dip and Colep strains
Viruses • Out of 6 groups only 3 are safe: -Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) -Granulosis visus (GV) -Citoplasmic Polyhedrosis Virus (CPV) • Family Specific • Need to be ingested
Fungi • Can penetrate cuticle
Nematodes • Three important families: - Steinenermatidae - Heterorhabditidae - Mermithidae • Useful for soil and bark insects
Bio-control is Diverse!
Biological Control is not always applicable Low Economic Injury Levels High Pest Density Eradication Programs
Biological control is an old practice
The three methods of Bio-control • Classical Biological control • Augmentation - Inoculation - Inundation • Conservation Bio-control
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