Biological control is a method of pest management that offers an alternative to pesticide use. Biological control manages plant pests and diseases by utilizing predators and parasites that feed upon them and maintaining the pest at a level at which it is no longer a problem. The beneficial organisms used in biological control include predators, parasites and fungi. For example, populations of ladybugs can be introduced into the garden to consume aphids.

There are three ways to implement biological control:

1. Classical biological control: introducing exotic natural enemies to control an exotic, invasive pest species. These pests are usually accidentally introduced into the ecosystem and normally physical barriers such as oceans and mountain ranges normally prevent their invasion. While classical biological control has been used extensively to control insect and weed pests it has not been used in the management of plant diseases.

2. Conservation of natural enemies: taking action to protect and/or maintain established populations of natural enemies in a given area in ways such as providing food, refuge or other needs for the natural enemies.

3. Augmentation of natural enemies: taking action to increase the populations or beneficial effects of natural enemies.

To locate a vendor that sells biological control supplies to homeowners in Massachusetts please visit the Lawn & Garden Yellow Pages.