Biological Control
Biological vs Chemical Pest Control
All living things strive to survive, but unfortunately the needs of other creatures sometimes conflict with our needs. An example of this conflict is the struggle between pests and humans. Pests are creatures that injure or kill plants or domestic animals, transmit disease, cause economic damage or are a nuisance in some other way. They eat our food crops or ornamental plants, infect plants that are useful to us, make us sick by transmitting infectious organisms, infest our livestock and pets and destroy property. An effective form of pest control is essential if we're going to win the battle with pest organisms.
Many different chemicals are used to kill pests. These pesticides often work well, but since they're designed to kill living things they may cause serious problems in humans or pets. Pesticides contaminate the environment and the food that we eat, and they may enter our bodies when we're applying them to our plants or animals. They sometimes harm other organisms in addition to their target pest. Another problem with using chemicals to control pests is that a pest may become resistant to a pesticide.
Biological pest control involves the use of another living organism to kill a pest. No chemicals are needed, there is no environmental contamination with pesticides and the pests don’t become resistant to the control method. However, introducing a plant or animal to an area where it doesn’t normally occur can create new problems.
Types of Biological Pest Control
There are three types of biological pest control. In classical biological control natural predators, parasites or pathogens of a pest are imported into an area to protect a crop or livestock. A "pathogen" is an organism that causes disease. Importation is a useful strategy if the pest has been introduced from another region and has no predators in its new habitat.
In conservation biological control no new plants or animals are introduced to an area, but the
All living things strive to survive, but unfortunately the needs of other creatures sometimes conflict with our needs. An example of this conflict is the struggle between pests and humans. Pests are creatures that injure or kill plants or domestic animals, transmit disease, cause economic damage or are a nuisance in some other way. They eat our food crops or ornamental plants, infect plants that are useful to us, make us sick by transmitting infectious organisms, infest our livestock and pets and destroy property. An effective form of pest control is essential if we're going to win the battle with pest organisms.
Many different chemicals are used to kill pests. These pesticides often work well, but since they're designed to kill living things they may cause serious problems in humans or pets. Pesticides contaminate the environment and the food that we eat, and they may enter our bodies when we're applying them to our plants or animals. They sometimes harm other organisms in addition to their target pest. Another problem with using chemicals to control pests is that a pest may become resistant to a pesticide.
Biological pest control involves the use of another living organism to kill a pest. No chemicals are needed, there is no environmental contamination with pesticides and the pests don’t become resistant to the control method. However, introducing a plant or animal to an area where it doesn’t normally occur can create new problems.
Types of Biological Pest Control
There are three types of biological pest control. In classical biological control natural predators, parasites or pathogens of a pest are imported into an area to protect a crop or livestock. A "pathogen" is an organism that causes disease. Importation is a useful strategy if the pest has been introduced from another region and has no predators in its new habitat.
In conservation biological control no new plants or animals are introduced to an area, but the