Pesticide:Management

Biological control

Biological control, Applying Pesticides Correctly, EPA and USDA

Biological control involves the use of natural enemies -- parasites, predators, and pathogens. You can supplement this natural control by releasing more of a pest's enemies into the target area or by introducing new enemies that were not in the area before. Biological control usually is not eradication. The degree of control fluctuates. There is a time lag between pest population increase and the corresponding increase in natural controls. But, under proper conditions, sufficient control can be achieved to eliminate the threat to the plant or animal to be protected.

Biological control also includes methods by which the pest is biologically altered, as in the production and release of large numbers of sterile males and the use of pheromones or juvenile hormones.

Pheromones can be useful in monitoring pest populations. Placed in a trap, for example, they can attract the insects in a sample area so that pest numbers can be estimated. Pheromones also can be a control tool. Sometimes a manufactured copy of the pheromone that a female insect uses to attract males can be used to confuse males and prevent mating, resulting in lower numbers of pests. Applying juvenile hormones to an area can reduce pest numbers by keeping some immature pests from becoming normal, reproducing adults.

Biological controls -- Alternatives to pesticides

Biological controls -- Alternatives to pesticides, Core4 Conservation Practices, NRCS

Biological controls use living organisms (natural enemies) to suppress populations of other pests.

Examples are:

• Predators are free-living animals (most often other insects or arthropods, but also birds,

reptiles, and mammals)that eat other animals (the prey).

• Parasitoids are insect (or related arthropods) parasites of other insects (or other arthropods). Most parasitoids are tiny wasps and flies. They differ zoologically from true parasites (fleas, lice, or intestinal tapeworms) primarily in that parasitoids kill their host whereas parasites may weaken, but seldom kill the host.

• Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms. including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and ematodes.

Brand name

Brand name, Applying Pesticides Correctly, EPA and USDA

Each manufacturer has a brand name for each product. Different manufacturers may use different brand names for the same pesticide active ingredient. Most companies register each brand name as a trademark and do not allow any other company to use that name. The brand or trade name is the one used in advertisements and by company salespeople. The brand name shows up plainly on the front panel of the label.

Pesticide handlers must beware of choosing a pesticide product by brand name alone. Many companies use the same basic name with only minor variations to designate entirely different pesticide chemicals. For example:

• DePesto= carbaryl

• DePesto Super= parathion and methomyl

• DePesto Supreme= carbaryl, parathion, and methomyl

Sometimes several companies will sell the same pesticide product under different brand names. For example:

• De Weed 2E= diquat 2 lbs per gallon EC formulated by Company X

• No Weeds= diquat 2 lbs per gallon EC formulated by Company Z.

Always read the ingredient statement to determine the active ingredients in a product.