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Recent Trends in Biological Control in India

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 AgriCos e-Newsletter
Open Access Multidisciplinary Monthly Online Magazine
Volume: 03 Issue: 10 October 2022 Article No: 19
Recent Trends in Biological Control in India
Bade A. S.1, Kulkarni S. R.2 and Shinde S. S.3
1
Ph.D. Scholar, Dept. of Agril. Entomology, PGI, MPKV, Rahuri (M.S.)
2
Professor (CAS), Dept. of Agril. Entomology, Post Graduate Institute, MPKV, Rahuri (M.S.)
3
Ph.D. Scholar, Dept. of Agril. Entomology, PGI, MPKV, Rahuri (M.S.)
SUMMARY
Nowadays, we all might be known that the chemical pesticides load on crops is so huge which can
ultimately affect human health and also detrimental effect on environment. Due to use of chemicals, pests may
become resistant to certain chemicals so we are need to develop alternative methods of pest control which will
give more emphasis on advanced biological control and biological control will be the safe pest management
option. Biological control approach is very valuable and proved the better in pest management. So we are going
to take some information related recent activities of biological control against fruit crop pests.

INTRODUCTION
In recent decades, elevated awareness of the impacts of pesticide use on the environment and human
health has resulted in efforts to reduce reliance on chemical controls. Biological control is the action of predators,
parasites, pathogens, and competitors in controlling pests and their damage. Biological control relies on predation,
parasitism, herbivory or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role.
The term biological control was first used by Smith 1919 to signify the use of natural enemies. Biological control
is one of the major components of IPM programme. Biocontrol is often viewed as a progressive and
environmentally friendly way to control pests. Maximum degree of success with classical biological control agents
in India has been achieved in biological control of aquatic weeds (55%) followed by homopterous pests (46.70%)
and terrestrial weeds (23.80%).

HISTORY
Year Historical event
1762 The Indian myna bird, Acridotheres tritis was introduces to Mauritius where it successfully
controlled the red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata
1795 The first successful classical biological control was achieved in India when cochineal insect,
Dactylopius ceyonicus was introduced from brazil to control Prickly pear in the mistaken belief that
it was the true caramine dye producing insect, D. coccus
1898 First intentionally introduced beneficial biocontrol agent was the coccinellid predator,
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri which was introduced by Mr. H.O. Newport.
1921 The agromyzid seed fly, Ophiomyia lantanae was introduced from Hawaii and released in South
India for suppression of Lantana camera.
1926 The coccinellid beetle, Rodolia cardinalis was introduced to India in 1926 via USA and South
Africa and in 1930 via Egypt for control of Icerya purchasi. The beetle was released in the Nilgiris
in 1930 and it successfully controlled I. purchasi
1937 For the control of woolly aphid, exotic aphelinid parasitoid, Aphelinus mali, a native of North
America, was introduced from UK at Saharanpur (UP)
1957 In India, organized and systematic biological control research began with the establishment of the
Indian station of Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (CIBC) at Bengluru
1958 Aphelinid parasitoid, Encarsia perniciosi strain from California was introduced in 1958 and
Illinois, Chinese and Russian strains were introduced in 1960 for the biological suppression of San
Jose scale
1977 An insectary was established at the Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Chethalli, Kodgu
(Karnataka), for the multiplication of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
1981 The first insectary Biocontrol resaerch laboratory was established in Banglore

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AgriCos e-Newsletter (ISSN: 2582-7049) 03: (10) October 2022

1982 Three exotic natural enemies were introduced in India viz., hydophilic weevils- Neochetina bruchi
and N. eichhorniae and galumnid mite, Orthogalumna terebrantis from their original home via
USA for the biological suppression of water hycinth.
1983 The encyrtid parasitoid, Leptomatstix dactylopii was introduced in India from Brazil which is a
parasitoid of Planococcus citri and P. lilacinus
1983 A chrysomelid beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata was imported for management of parthenium
1883- Exotic weevil, Cryptobagus salviniae was released for the control of water fern, Salvinia molesta
84 in a lily pond in Banglore
1987 the first issue of the Journal of Biological Control was published
1988 The coccinellid predator, Curinus coeruleus was obtained from Thailand in 1988 for the biological
suppression of Heteropsylla cubana
AICRP on Biological control of crop pests and weeds started in 1977 then upgraded in 1993 as
(Project Directorate of Biological Control)
2009 PDBC renamed as National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects (NBAII)
2010 The National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects (NBAII), Banglore took efforts in
importing three exotic papaya mealy bug parasitoid such as Acherophagus papayae,
Pseudleptomastix mexicana and Anagyrus loecki
2014 NBAII renamed as National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR)

Biological Control:
 Based on ecology as a phase of natural control it can be defined as “the action of parasitoids, predators or
pathogens in maintaining another organism’s population density at a lower average than would occur in their
absence” (Paul De Bach, 1964)
 When the activities of man are concerned as a phase of applied control “it can be defined as the destruction
or suppression of undesirable insects, other animals or plants by the introduction, encouragement or artificial
increase of their natural enemies.”

Methods of Biological Control:

There are three basic strategies for biological pest control:
Importation (Classical):
Importation or classical biological control involves the introduction of a pest's natural enemies to a new locale
where they do not occur naturally. Early instances were often unofficial and not based on research, and some
introduced species became serious pests themselves. Most successful with pests of fruits and forest trees.
e.g.: The vedalia beetle, Rodolia cardinalis was imported from Australia to California in the 19th century,
successfully controlling cottony cushion scale.

Augmentation:
 Augmentation involves the supplemental release of natural enemies that occur in a particular area, boosting
the naturally occurring populations there.
 Augmentation can be effective, but is not guaranteed to work, and depends on the precise details of the
interactions between each pest and control agent.
 It is of two types: a. innundative releases and
b. inoculative releases

Inundative Releases:
 Pest control is through release of natural enemies and not by their progeny.
 Basically the mortality of pest is immediate.
 Massive releases have been attempted in several programmes involving natural enemies like Trichogramma
spp. parasitizes insect eggs and in addition to this, general predators like green lace wing and lady bird beetles
are used in augmentation programmes.

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AgriCos e-Newsletter (ISSN: 2582-7049) 03: (10) October 2022

Inoculative Releases:
 Control is dependent upon the progeny being produced for more than one generation following the
colonization of individuals of beneficial species.
 Control using this method lasts longer than with inundative releases.
 Small numbers of natural enemies are released.
 e.g. Citrus mealy bug, Pseudococcus citri by the release of predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri.

Conservation:
 Defined as making the environment better suited to the natural enemies.
 The objective is to protect and maintain the exiting populations natural enemies in Agro-ecosystems.
 This method usually includes using chemical less toxic to natural enemies, reducing number of applications
and reducing dosage level.
 Basically, this approach requires knowledge about all aspects of natural enemies communities.

Biological control agents:

Predators (Ladybird beetles, Syrphid flies, lacewings, etc.), Parasites/ Parasitoids (Ichneumonid wasps,
Tachinid flies, etc.), Entomopathogen (Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacteria), Metarhizium anisopliae (Fungi), NPV
(Viruses), etc.) Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Heterorhabditidae spp, Steinernematidae spp, etc.) and
Biorational pesticides (Botanicals (pyrethrins, azadirachtin), Minerals (kaolin clay, iron phosphate), synthetics,
etc.)

Current Scenario on Biological Control in India:

Table No. 1: Area under cultivation and under use of Chemical and Bio-pesticides during 2014-15 to 2018-
19
Area Under
Year Pesticides
Cultivation
Chemical Bio-pesticides
2014-15 96.628 53.141 5.405
2015-16 126.957 69.058 6.478
2016-17 120.798 71.645 7.267
2017-18 132.011 82.189 7.738
2018-19 167.499 87.957 14.636
Source: Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage

Table No. 2: Pesticide wise consumption of Bio-pesticides during 2014-15 to 2018-19

Biopesticide 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Azadirachin 175.49 120.57 945.12 109.31 113.50
Bacillus subtilis - - 1.90 22.10 21.00
Bacillus thuringiensis 83.78 88.23 163.97 87.93 81.33
Beauveria bassiana 268.44 296.05 407.82 345.26 407.97
Metarhizium anisopliae 73.36 210.95 413.74 314.00 305.41
Neem based insecticides 436.48 515.75 397.04 338.34 376.16
NPV (H) 123.72 42.17 167.10 35.54 179.70
NPV (S) 0.89 102.88 2.59 48.25 298.50
Pascilomysis 60.22 51.05 63.86 57.49 55.00
Photorhabdus 3.00 3.00 - - -
Pseudomonas fluorescens 551.26 518.69 503.29 599.60 371.95
Tricoderma harzianum 16.24 20.49 57.74 381.43 10.67
Tricoderma spp. 20.02 20.02 346.69 21.00 234.82
Tricoderma viride 970.71 807.86 567.34 790.63 449.78
Verticillium lecanii 158.32 201.53 347.59 321.98 290.15

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AgriCos e-Newsletter (ISSN: 2582-7049) 03: (10) October 2022

Other Bio-pesticides 0.01 0.71 - 0.07 -

Total 2941.94 2999.94 4385.79 3472.92 3195.94
Source: Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage

Table No. 3: Consumption of Bio-pesticides formulations in various states during 2014-15 to 2018-19
States 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Maharashtra 486 1173 1454 1271 1164
West Bengal 680 950 838 951 997
Kerala 631 606 662 717 862
Karnataka 530 505 473 544 544
Haryana 330 340 380 390 410
Tamil Nadu 286 286 294 630 500
Chhattisgarh 284 370 380 405 505
Source: Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage

Field application of Natural Enemies recommended by NBAIR:

Target organism
Natural Enemy Used as Dose of application
(Pest)/host
Acerophagus papayae, Papaya mealy bug,
Anagyrus loecki, Endo parasitoids Paracoccus marginatus 250 adults/ha
Pseudleptomastyx
mexicana
Cryptolaemus Mealy bugs, 10 beetles or 50
montrouzieri (Mulsant) Adults/Grubs Maconellicoccus hirsutus, grubs/infested plant or
(E) Planococcus citri, P. tree or 5000 beetles/ha
lilacinus
Scymnus coccivora Mealy bugs on citrus,
Adults grapes and other fruit 600-2500 adults/ha
crops (M. hirsutus,
Planococcus spp.)
Chilocorus nigrita Adults Citrus scale, Aonidiella 10 adults/tree
aurantii
Chrysoperla carnea Eggs / First instar Sucking pests on fruit 10,000 first instar
(Stephens) larvae crops larvae/ha
Mallada spp. Cocoons Sucking pests on fruit 10,000 first instar
crops larvae/ha
Beauveria bassiana Spore cum mycelia Several insect pests of 2.5-5.0 kg/ha for foliar
formulation 1X10^8 crops spray
CFU/g/ml 2.5-5.0 kg + 250- 500 kg
FYM/ha for soil
application
Metarhizium anisopliae Spore cum mycelia Several insect pests of 2.5-5.0 kg/ha for foliar
formulation 1X10^8 crops spray 2.5-5.0 kg + 250-
CFU/g/ml 500 kg FYM/ha for soil
application
Verticillium lecanii Spore cum mycelia Sucking pests of various 2.5-5.0 kg/ha for foliar
formulation 1X10^8 crops spray
CFU/g/ml
Paecilomyces Spore cum mycelia For mite control 2.5-5.0 kg/ha for foliar
fumosoroseus formulation 1X10^8 spray
CFU/g/ml

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AgriCos e-Newsletter (ISSN: 2582-7049) 03: (10) October 2022

CONCLUSIONS
The use of indigenous/exotic natural enemies to suppress pest population has long been an integral part
of biological control, which has continually proved very valuable in pest management. More use of advanced
techniques i.e. use of nanoparticles/biotechnological/molecular approach for the development of new strains of
bio-pesticides as well as natural enemies It is important that the Government/Universities/Private
Companies/Organizations all should make more efforts to create awareness regarding utilization and conservation
natural enemies for their future use as a natural tool for control of various sucking pests of fruit crops. So, the
biological control can be alternate system, which may play an important role in achieving the goal of sustainable
agriculture.

REFERENCES
NBAIR, 2020. https://www.nbair.res.in/
PPQS, 2020. http://ppqs.gov.in/

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