What is biological control

Plants have always been able to count on the invaluable help of various insects to control pests, thus managing to stay alive without having to spend extra energy to do so.

Today we people who grow plants can benefit a lot from them, but what exactly is biological control?

Biological control consists of using beneficial insects and microorganisms to feed on pests that affect plants, such as the following:

Index

  • 1 ladybugs
  • 2 praying mantis
  • 3 Mushroom Beauveria bassiana
  • 4 Nematodes for palm trees

ladybugs

ladybug

They are round beetles that love to eat aphids ; in fact, this is a habit that they begin to have even as larvae. So don’t hesitate: take as many as you can, put them in a box and place them on the plants that are most often affected by this pest, such as rose bushes .

praying mantis

praying mantis

The Praying Mantis is an insect that is often feared, but it really is one of the best allies we can find since it also feeds on aphids . For this reason, every time you see one, take it -with the help of a stick for example- and place it on a plant that has aphids.

Mushroom Beauveria bassiana

Beauveria bassiana

It is a fungus found in a palm grove in Elche (Alicante, Spain) capable of reducing the population of the red palm weevil found in a palm tree, thus strengthening the plant’s defense system. Although it is used more as a preventive and not so much as a curative, it is a very interesting remedy that will allow us to reduce the use of chemical products.

nematodes for palm trees

Nematode seen under the microscope

Image – Elnortedecastilla.es

They are tiny worms, visible only through a microscope, capable of reducing and even eliminating the larvae and adult specimens of the red palm weevil . In addition, it can be used both as a preventive and as a curative, which is undoubtedly very interesting, especially if we have many palm trees and want to save a little money.

What did you think of this topic? Do you know other insects or microorganisms that control pests?

What is biological control

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top

Discover more from DIY Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading