Bio control Measures for Insects and pests

Biocontrol of insects and pests

 Use of predators, parasites, mites, fungi or any other organisms to control different types of pests is called biological control measures.

 Parasitoid, Predators and Microorganisms are used as the natural enemies to control insect pests.

(1) Parasitoid:

When an insect is itself a parasite, then it is called parasitoid e.g. egg parasitoids of Trichogramma chilonis and T. japonicum are used to control Tissue borers of sugarcane and Rice.

(2) Parasite:

Parasite attacks on phytophagous insects.

(3) Predators:

Who hunts or kills other organisms for food, is called predator, Vadalia beetle (Rodolia cardinalis controls the cottony cushion scale (Icerya purchasi), Lantana bug was successfully controlled the Lantana camara.

(4) Microbials/Pathogens:

The micro-organisms like bacteria, virus, reckettsiae, protozoa, nematodes and fungi have the capacity to control the pests i.e. Bacillus thuringiensis (bacteria) effective against many Lepidopterous larvae like cabbage worm, Pectinojora gossypiella, sugarcane stern borer etc.

 NPV (Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses) have the effective control over Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera.