Biological pest control
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Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, whether pest animals such as insects and mites, weeds, or pathogens affecting animals or plants by using other organisms. It relies o
Syrphus hoverfly larva (below) feed on aphids (above), making them natural biological control agents.
A parasitoid wasp (Cotesia congregata) adult with pupal cocoons on its host, a tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta, green background), an example of a hymenopteran biological control agent
Cactoblastis cactorum larvae feeding on Opuntia prickly pear cacti
Rodolia cardinalis, the vedalia beetle, was imported from Australia to California in the 19th century, successfully controlling cottony cushion scale on orange trees.
Beauveria bassiana
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Beauveria bassiana is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and acts as a parasite on various arthropod species, causing white muscardine disease; it thus belongs to the group of
Spotted in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, a golden silk orb-weaver is dead from white muscardine disease with white mold emerging from the cadaver's joints and pores.
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