Biological Pest Control
Or BPC for short…
Biological Pest Control--BPC
What is it?
Biological Pest Control is a way of controlling
pests and diseases in agriculture that relies on
natural predation rather than chemicals.
How does it work?
Biological pest control works to create a
system where the insects referred to as pests
and the things that cause diseases are kept at
manageable levels using natural means.
For example: Introducing a predator to a pest, or
growing plants that keep particular insects
away.
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Let me introduce…the predators
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LADYBUGS—The larva will eat more than
their fare share of aphids, blackflies,
caterpillars and mites. (Not really lady-like…)
Dragonflies—They eat mosquitoes and
mosquito larva. Very important in the control
of mosquito population.
Parasitic Wasps—They lay their eggs IN many
common pests. The eggs hatch and eat the
pests alive!!
Here they are…
A Wasp and its prey
Plants keep away the insects?
How can this be?
 Masking/shielding the crop plants from pests
 Producing smells that confuse and deter pests.
 Acting as trap plants by providing an alluring
food that entices pests away from crops.
 Serving as nursery plants, providing breeding
grounds for beneficial insects.
Did you know
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Basil — Repels flies and mosquitoes.
Catnip — Deters flea beetle.
Garlic — Deters Japanese beetle.
Horseradish — Deters potato bugs.
Marigold — The workhorse of pest deterrents.
Discourages Mexian bean beetles, nematodes and
others.
Mint — Deters white cabbage moth, ants.
Nasturium — Deters aphids, squash bugs and striped
pumpkin beetles.
Did you know Cont’d
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Pot Marigold — Deters asparagus beetles, tomato
worm, and general garden pests.
Peppermint — Repels the white cabbage butterfly.
Rosemary — Deters cabbage moth, bean beetles and
carrot fly.
Sage — Deters cabbage moth and carrot fly.
Southern Wood — Deters cabbage moth.
Summer Savory — Deters bean beetles.
Tansy — Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles,
striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs and ants.
Thyme — Deters cabbage worm.
Wormwood — Deters animals from garden.
Why Use BPC?
Benefits:
 This is a very cost effective way to prevent
pests. (Cheaper than pesticides).
 No chemicals will be used, therefore, no
pollution.
 No chemicals—no health problems.
Why not BPC?
The negatives:
 You must spend more time trying to control
the pests. (More time spent=less money)
 Research must be done to find the “right”
bugs/plants for the job.
 If the wrong insects/plants are used, then you
can end up seriously harming the ecosystem.
Harming the Ecosystem…
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In Hawaii, the mongoose was imported to stop
the spread of rodents.
The mongoose ate many rodents, but ate other
things too…(not good.)
Lady Bug vs. Preying Mantis
What would you choose?
You are a farmer in Nova Scotia and you have
been having problems with aphids. You have
decided to use BPC instead of chemicals to
help the aphid problem.
You must choose, based on the information
provided, which predator will be the best for
you.