Nature of Biological Control Agents

Chapter 3.
NATURE OF BIOLOGICAL
CONTROL AGENTS
Biological control or biocon is a method of controlling
pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases
using other organisms.
It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other

natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an
active human management role.
1. PARASITOIDS
PARASITOIDS The term parasitoids was coined
in 1913 by the German writer
O.M. Reuter and adopted in
English by his reviewer, William
Morton Wheeler
A parasitoid is an organism that

lives on or in a host organism and
ultimately kills the host.
About 10% of described insect

species are entomophagous
parasitoids.
THE FOUR INSECT ORDER THAT ARE RENOWNED
FOR THIS TYPE OF LIFE HISTORY:
1. By far the majority are in

the order Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera is a large
order of insects, comprising
the sawflies, wasps, bees,
and ants.
2. The flies (order Diptera)
any member of an order of

insects containing the two-
winged or so-called true flies.
3. The “twisted-wing parasites”

(order Strepsiptera)
A small group consisting

entirely of parasitoids
4. The beetles (order
Coleoptera)
Family: Ripiphordae
Family: Rhipiceridae
THE FOUR INSECT ORDER THAT ARE RENOWNED FOR THIS TYPE
OF LIFE HISTORY:
PREDATORS
 Predators capture and eat other
organisms such as insects or mites.
 Predators include;
• Lady Beetles
• Green Lacewings
• Syrphid Flies
• Predatory Bugs
• Ground Beetles
• Mantids
• Hunting Wasps
• Predatory Mites
a. LADY BEETLE
Often called ladybugs, lady beetles are the most familiar insect predator. Most adult lady
beetles are round to oval, brightly colored and often spotted. Lady beetle larvae are elongated,
usually dark colored, and flecked with orange or yellow. Adult and larvae feed on large numbers
of small, soft-bodied insects such as aphids. One group of small black beetles (stethorus) is
important in controlling spider mites and others specialize in scale insects. Lady beetles can
rapidly control many developing insect problems, particularly if temperature are warm.
b. GREEN LACEWINGS
• Green lacewings adult stage is familiar to most
gardeners: a pale green insects with large, clear,
highly-veined wings that are held over the body
when at rest.
• Adult green lacewings primarily feed on nectar and

other fluids, but some species also consume a few
small insects.
• Green lacewings lay a distinctive stalked egg.

• Lacewing larvae emerge in 4 to 10 days.
• These larvae sometimes called aphid lions, are

voracious predators capable of feeding on small
caterpillars and beetles, as well as aphids and other
insects.
c. SYRPHID FLIES
 These flies are called by several names,
such as flower flies or hover. Mostly are
brightly colored, yellow or orange and
black, and may resemble bees or yellow
jacket wasps.
 Syrphid flies are particularly important in

controlling aphid infestations early in the
season, when cooler temperatures may
inhibit other predators.
 Similar in appearance to syrphid fly
larvae is a small bright orange predatory
midge (Aphidioletes)
d. PREDATORY BUGS
• True bugs (order:

Hemiptera) are
predators of insects
and mites.
• All feed by piercing

the prey with their
narrow mouthparts
and sucking out
body fluids
e. GROUND BEETLE
• Various species of ground beetle are found under debris, in

soil cracks or moving along the ground.
• Immature stage are distinctly different from adults and

more often are found within the top few inches of soil.
• Ground beetles are general feeders with powerful jaws.

f. MANTIDS
• Mantids are uncommon in most of Colorado but are familiar insects to most
gardeners.
• Mantids are general predators that feed on almost any insects of the right
size.
• They have one generation per year with winter spent as eggs within a pod.
g. HUNTING WASPS
• These hunting wasps can be
important in controlling garden
insect pests.
• For example, the common

Polistes paper wasps, when
hunting, may thoroughly search
plants and feed on caterpillars,
often providing substantial
control of these insects.
h. PREDATORY MITES
• These predatory mites are

little larger than spider mites
but are more rounded in
shape and faster moving than
their prey.
• Predatory mites often can

provide good control of spider
mites.

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Chapter 3.

It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other

A parasitoid is an organism that

About 10% of described insect

1. By far the majority are in

2. The flies (order Diptera)

any member of an order of

3. The “twisted-wing parasites”

A small group consisting

• Adult green lacewings primarily feed on nectar and

• Green lacewings lay a distinctive stalked egg.

• These larvae sometimes called aphid lions, are

 Syrphid flies are particularly important in

• True bugs (order:

• All feed by piercing

• Various species of ground beetle are found under debris, in

• Immature stage are distinctly different from adults and

• Ground beetles are general feeders with powerful jaws.

• For example, the common

• These predatory mites are

• Predatory mites often can

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