Biological Pest Control is Better than Chemical Control

Biological Pest Control is Better than Chemical Control

A pesticide is any agent used to kill pests or control the incidence

of insect pests, plant pathogens and weed populations. Biological

control is the control of pest and weeds using specially chosen living

organisms or biological products, whereas chemical control is the use

of pesticides or chemicals to kill or control pests.

Predators or parasites are used to keep the pest population low.

Insects move, leaving their enemies behind, so by introducing their

natural enemies to the environment the number of pests and their

effect on the surroundings decreases. The population of the enemy can

be increased by mass production in a lab. Releasing it when the pest

is most susceptible makes it more likely this method will be

effective. Selective breeding could also be used to breed a more

effective insect to kill the pest. However, this is not a permanent

solution, as the insects will move on again.

"Phages (viruses that infect bacteria) can be used as vectors in the

genetic engineering of bacteria, so viruses which attack plant cells

should open up the possibility of doing the same in plants"(Using

Viruses, Biological Science 2, Taylor, Green and Stout). This

technique is still being developed. Biotechnology is engineering

man-made viruses to target only certain pests. These viruses are

harmless to other species, and will later self-destruct.

Chemicals can be synthesised, such as those produced by insects to

warn their fellow insects of danger, used by farmers to scare them

away from crops. Chemicals used by insects to attract a mate have been

synthesised to attract insect pests into traps. Some chemical

compounds in use are totally synthetic, but others derive from natural

chemicals that are the enhanced and developed by scientists.

Fungi pathogens are controlled by the use of specific chemical

fungicides, for instance, the rice blast and rice blight were both

stopped by the use of a specific chemical. New compounds are being

developed to stop fungi pathogens from adapting. Strobilurins are also

being developed.