Natural Enemies
Organisms that help control the pest populations in the landscape and protect the balance of nature are called natural enemies. Biological control is the practice of manipulating selected natural enemies in an attempt to control pest populations.
- Predatorshunt and kill other organisms for food.
- Parasites/parasitoidslive on or within pests, and eventually kill them. Parasites do not kill their hosts, whereas parasitoids eventually kill their hosts.
- Parasitic wasps
- Parasitic flies
- Parasitic nematodes
- Pathogens cause disease in their hosts. Insecticide products containing pathogens must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Microbial insecticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.)
- Thelohania, a disease of red imported fire ants