Which pest management approach uses natural enemies to control pests?

Which pest management approach uses natural enemies to control pests?

• A. Cultural control
• B. Chemical control
• C. Genetic modification
• D. Biological control

Answer: (D)

Biological control uses natural enemies to suppress pest populations, making it the approach that relies on living organisms to keep pests in check. This means predators, parasitoids, or pathogens are used to reduce pest numbers rather than chemicals or changes to the crop itself. Examples include releasing lady beetles to feed on aphids, introducing parasitic wasps that attack caterpillars, or using microbial agents like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that infect pest larvae. This method can be more sustainable and targeted than spraying broad-spectrum pesticides, and it differs from cultural control (which changes crop practices to reduce pests) and genetic modification (which alters the pest or crop’s genes).

Biological control uses natural enemies to suppress pest populations, making it the approach that relies on living organisms to keep pests in check. This means predators, parasitoids, or pathogens are used to reduce pest numbers rather than chemicals or changes to the crop itself. Examples include releasing lady beetles to feed on aphids, introducing parasitic wasps that attack caterpillars, or using microbial agents like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that infect pest larvae. This method can be more sustainable and targeted than spraying broad-spectrum pesticides, and it differs from cultural control (which changes crop practices to reduce pests) and genetic modification (which alters the pest or crop’s genes).