Biological pest control agents

Biological pest control agents include mites, insects and nematodes, and their use has several advantages. It can reduce the need to use chemical pesticides, and therefore also the environmental impact of those chemical agents. In the cultivation of vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, the use of biological control agents also has the advantage that it leaves no chemical residues. What is more, resistance does not occur with biological control agents as it can with the use of chemical agents, meaning that biological agents can be used repeatedly.

The main categories of biological pest control agents are:
1. Predatory mites and predatory thrips
2. Ichneumon wasps and gall midges
3. Predatory bugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and predatory beetles
4. Nematodes

Back to article