Advantages %26 Disadvantages of biological control Minimized safety concerns. Unlike chemical pesticides, biological control agents, also called bioagents, do not leave lasting residues that remain in the environment. It is an alternative to pesticides and poisons that may offer a few distinct advantages and disadvantages. When successful, classic biocontrol provides self-sustaining, large-scale control of the target pest.
When pesticides are used, not only can pests be affected, but also their natural predators; eventually, the pests could even return stronger, since their natural predators are no longer present to deter them. The overall effectiveness of the program and its economic benefits increase significantly even when pesticides are used in a way that reduces the likelihood that pests will become resistant to the chemicals used to combat them. However, some conservation biologists are questioning the environmental safety of biocontrol. Not knowing how to address this problem, farmers often increase their use of pesticides, causing more problems.
The biggest advantage of pesticides is that they are easily available and are very easy to use, unlike alternative methods, such as biological control and other similar methods, which can take a long time to plan and often have no immediate effect on pests. Pests with higher tolerance levels are more likely to succeed, such as indirect pests that can defoliate plants or feed on sap, but do not significantly affect yields, except at very high densities. Unlike the chemical process, biological pest control does not leave any type of residue as a result. In the chemical process, being full of pesticides, it can easily destroy plants that also bear fruit by rotting them.
Potential biological control agents are examining weeds in their area of origin abroad and looking for damage caused by the herb's natural enemies. Biological pest control is a safe method, since it only focuses on weeds and leaves fruits and others alone. There have also been cases in which the biological control agent, when introduced and is not native, eventually becomes a pest in and of itself. The ladybug acts as one of the biological control agents that is safe both for the environment and for soil and water.
Ultimately, biological pest control has its own advantages and disadvantages, since it is still a new method for controlling the pest population.
