Question

Is biological control expensive?

Answer 1

Biological control is known as the method of controlling pests and other disease causing pathogens using living organisms. The term biological control was introduced by Harry Scott Smith during 1919 at the meeting of the Pacific Slope Branch of the American Association of Economic Entomologists.

Complete answer:
Biological control is of three major types- importation, augmentation and conservation. Importation which is also known as classical biological control is the introduction of the enemies of the pest at a new region where they generally do not occur. Augmentation is the release of natural enemies at a particular area where they are already present. This leads to boosting of the natural population that is already present there which in turn leads to longer term control.

Conservation is the protection of the natural enemies in their own habitat, this type of control is simple as well as cost effective. The agents for biological control are of various types such as follows, predators who are mostly free living species and consume large amounts of prey, parasitoids that lay eggs on or inside the body of the host and use them as a food source that finally leads to their death, microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that have nowadays increased importance as biological control.

Biological control is now being used to a moderate extent because it has been found to be less expensive than conventional control methods and also does not cause much harm to the environment.

Note: Though biological control has many advantages over the conventional methods there are certain limitations associated with them as well such as it might affect the biodiversity of the region that also has an impact on the environment and growers might stick to the conventional methods rather than trying this new method.