Pest Management: Biological Control Flashcards
Natural Control
regulation of population densities by abiotic and biotic factors.
Natural Control Factors
weather, quantity of food, natural enemies
Natural enemies of pests
BENEFICIALS
Beneficial Organisms used in Biological Control
Parasitoids, predators, pathogens and herbivores
Ecological Service
Help that is 100% free
Biological Control
Manipulation of beneficial organisms to regulate population densities of undesirable organisms.
Herbivores used to
control weeds
Antagonists used to
control plant pathogens
Semiochemicals
pheromones (not biological control)
Chemical Control
Chemicals derived from microbes and plants
Most common target of biological control efforts
Insects and Weeds
more commonly: Lepidoptera/moths
Importation Biocontrol
importation of natural enemies from exotic, invasive pests native homeland.
Importation Biocontrol is based on:
Enemies release hypothesis by Charles Darwin
“exotic species become invasive because they are freed of their natural predators”
Major Advantages of importation Biocontrol
Self Maintaining and Cost Effective
Example of Importation Biocontrol
Cottony-Cushion Scale (ccs) invaded California citrus trees in the 1880’s. Beneficials used were Vedalia Beetles and Parasitic flies both imported from Australia. They were able to save the industry millions, with it only costing $5,000 to fix the issue.
