Biopesticides: These biological chemicals come from living things like fungi, bacteria, plants, and other microbes. There have been significant improvements in the creation and use of biopesticides. These products are less damaging to the environment and beneficial organisms while yet being able to target certain pests. Examples include mycoinsecticides based on entomopathogenic fungi and Bacillus thuringiensis products that target insect pests.
IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies have advanced with the addition of biological control techniques. IPM integrates a number of pest management techniques, such as biological control, cultural practises, monitoring, and the prudent application of chemical pesticides. Combining other IPM techniques with the use of beneficial insects—such as predatory mites, parasitoids, and nematodes—has proven to be an efficient way to manage pests while using the fewest chemicals possible.
Biological control is the use of living organisms to suppress pest populations, making them less damaging than they would otherwise be. Natural enemies of insects play an important role in limiting the densities of potential pests. These natural enemies include predators, parasitoids, and pathogens.
