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Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, whether pest animals such as insects and mites, weeds, or pathogens affecting animals or plants by using other organisms. [1] It relies on predation , parasitism , herbivory , or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role.
Encarsia formosa, an endoparasitic wasp, was one of the first biological control agents developed. Some species of bee are beneficial as pollinators, although generally only efficient at pollinating plants from the same area of origin, facilitating propagation and fruit production for many plants. This group includes not only honeybees, but ...
Human disturbance of ecology ecological systems, particularly the development of monoculture and the movement of species tends to stimulate pest problems by reducing biodiversity which usually has natural controls that keep pest populations in line. Biological pest control does not seek to eradicate pests, but to keep them to economically ...
Biopesticides usually have no known function in photosynthesis, growth or other basic aspects of plant physiology. Many chemical compounds produced by plants protect them from pests; they are called antifeedants. These materials are biodegradable and renewable, which can be economical for practical use.
Beneficial insects can include predators (such as ladybugs) of pest insects, and pollinators (such as bees, which are an integral part of the growth cycle of many crops).). Increasingly certain species of insects are managed and used to intervene where natural pollination or biological control is insufficient, usually due to human disturbance of the balance of established ecosys
The most commonly used species of push plants are legumes of the genus Desmodium (e.g. silverleaf Desmodium, D. uncinatum, and greenleaf Desmodium, D. intortum). The Desmodium is planted in between the rows of maize or sorghum, where they emit volatile chemicals (such as (E)-β- ocimene and (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene) that repel the ...
The term "plant pest", mainly applied to insect micropredators of plants, has a specific definition in terms of the International Plant Protection Convention and phytosanitary measures worldwide. A pest is any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal, or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products. [15]
Though it might be effective to eliminate target species, it often creates health hazards for both non-target species and humans. It is therefore generally a problematic method when, for example, rare species are present in the area. [46] [49] Biological control: This is a method where organisms are used to control invasive species. One common ...