|  | Public Health Safety | Public Health

The Effects of Biological Pest Control

The use of biological pest control dates back almost 4,000 years, when Egyptian records mentioned using cats to control rodents. Biological pest control means using natural mechanisms such as herbivory (animals eating plants), parasitism and predation to control pests. The pests can range from mites, insects and weeds to plant diseases. Biological pest control is normally undertaken by biologists when the environment or specific organisms face the danger of death or extinction.

  1. Effects on Native Biodiversity

    • Biological pest control is introduced into an area of natural biodiversity to protect a native species from the invasion of other species that are predominant in a selective area. A major concern is with the type of biological control that is brought into the area. If the biological control does not have a specific preference as to what it will attack and eat, it may actually take the position of the invasive species at a later stage of life.

    Effect on the Invasive Species

    • Biological pest control has its most effect on the invasive species. When a biological pest control is used, it kills the invasive species as well as the natural enemies of a native species. This results in a growth in the population of the native species. Thus, a native species for which the biological pest control was used now dominates an entire area. So, it becomes necessary to control the population of the native species in turn as it can produce a negative effect on the biodiversity for the area.

    Effects of Indiscriminate Use of Biological Pest Control

    • It is very important that the biological pest control should be carried out properly. Indiscriminate use of biological pest control can lead to ecological disaster. In Australia, the cane toad was introduced into some ecosystems to combat the cane beetle. The frog not only thrived on the cane beetle, but ate other insects as well. As a result, the cane toad drastically changed the ecosystem for the worse. Other organisms like crocodiles and tiger snakes were also affected due to the cane toad's ability to squirt poison.

      It is necessary for biological pest control to be undertaken by scientists and biologists on a much larger level, where they can ensure the safety of the entire ecosystem and environment.

Public Health - Related Articles