Asder
Advantages and Limitations of Augmentative Biological Pest Control
By: Amber Floyd
4/26/13
Biological Science 101
Prof. Karen Baracskay
Introduction
The demand for commercial shipments of large volume, high-quality invertebrate biological control agents for augmentative bio control in outdoor crops far exceeds the current supply of bio control agents needed for the escalating demand in North America (Hale, 2003). Pest resistance to chemical pesticides, enlightened growers, public pressure, government regulations, and expanded production of organic and pesticide-reduced crops are the driving forces behind these demands (Hale, 2003). Augmentative bio control, historically, has been more successful in greenhouse vegetable production than outdoor crops; however, there have been clear cases where it was effective, both in terms of suppression relative to target densities or pesticides, and economic considerations (Hale, 2003). This paper will focus on the limitations and advantages of augmentative biological control (ABC) and its predicted usefulness. Biological pest control is the use of living organisms to control pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases (Wiki, 2013). Relying on natural mechanisms like predation, herbivory, pathogens and parasitism, bio control agents are quite often the natural enemy of a pest; parasites and predators are used to reduce insect and other animal pests while herbivores are used to control weeds (Wiki, 2013). Biologically based pest management typically involves an active management role from humans. Although forest and agricultural pests are the main targets of bio control, threats to human health such as mosquitoes and certain weeds in the environment are targets as well (Wiki, 2013). Often bio control operates as an alternative to pesticides and other pest management systems, but can be incorporated in an integrated pest management system (Wiki, 2013). Techniques based on physiology,
By: Amber Floyd
4/26/13
Biological Science 101
Prof. Karen Baracskay
Introduction
The demand for commercial shipments of large volume, high-quality invertebrate biological control agents for augmentative bio control in outdoor crops far exceeds the current supply of bio control agents needed for the escalating demand in North America (Hale, 2003). Pest resistance to chemical pesticides, enlightened growers, public pressure, government regulations, and expanded production of organic and pesticide-reduced crops are the driving forces behind these demands (Hale, 2003). Augmentative bio control, historically, has been more successful in greenhouse vegetable production than outdoor crops; however, there have been clear cases where it was effective, both in terms of suppression relative to target densities or pesticides, and economic considerations (Hale, 2003). This paper will focus on the limitations and advantages of augmentative biological control (ABC) and its predicted usefulness. Biological pest control is the use of living organisms to control pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases (Wiki, 2013). Relying on natural mechanisms like predation, herbivory, pathogens and parasitism, bio control agents are quite often the natural enemy of a pest; parasites and predators are used to reduce insect and other animal pests while herbivores are used to control weeds (Wiki, 2013). Biologically based pest management typically involves an active management role from humans. Although forest and agricultural pests are the main targets of bio control, threats to human health such as mosquitoes and certain weeds in the environment are targets as well (Wiki, 2013). Often bio control operates as an alternative to pesticides and other pest management systems, but can be incorporated in an integrated pest management system (Wiki, 2013). Techniques based on physiology,
Cited: Hale, M. A., and D. Elliott. "Successes and challenges in augmentative biological control in outdoor agricultural applications: a producer’s perspective." Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods, Honolulu, HI. 2003. Chang, Gary. "Biological pest control," in Access Science, McGraw-Hill Education, 2005, http://www.accessscience.com. “Biological pest control," Wikipedia, 12 March 2013; retrieved April 4, 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_pest_control. Collier, T, et al. " A critical Evaluation of Augmentative Biological Control," Biological Control, Volume 31, Issue 2; October 2004. Orr, David. “Chapter 9: Biological Control and Integrated Pest Management." Integrated Pest Management: Innovation-Development Process," 2009, pp. 207-239.