| Webster's Online Dictionary |
| Expressions | Domain | Definition | |
| Biological Control | Administration | 1: The direct human introduction of living organisms - predators, parasites, or pathogens - to eliminate or control undesirable species. The practice is usually considered an ecologically sound alternative to the application of chemical pesticides. (references) | |
| 2: In pest control, the use of animals and organisms that eat or otherwise kill or out-compete pests. (references) | |||
| Biological control | Agriculture | The practice of using beneficial natural organisms to attack and control harmful plant and animal pests and weeds is called biological control, or biocontrol. This can include introducing predators, parasites, and disease organisms, or releasing sterilized individuals. Biocontrol methods may be an alternative or complement to chemical pest control methods. Biocontrol is part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service program to control several economically important pests of food and fiber crops; it also is researched and used by other USDA agencies that promote integrated pest management. (references) | |
| Biological control | Geology | The use of natural means to control unwanted pests. Examples include introduced or naturally occurring predators such as wasps, or hormones that inhibit the reproduction of pests. Biological controls can sometimes be alternatives to mechanical or chemical means. (references) | |
| Biological control (biocontrol) | Geology | The agricultural use of living things, such as parasites, diseases, and predators, to control or eliminate others, such as weeds and pests, rather than by using chemicals (herbicides and pesticides). (references) | |
| Biological control agent | Medicine | A pesticide in which the active ingredient is a virus, fungus or bacterium, or a natural product derived from a plant source. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| Biological control measure | Medicine | The artificial application of a natural control agent to regulate pest species. Source: European Union. (references) | |
| Classical biological control | Environment | The introduction of a natural enemy from another geographical area-very often the area in which the pest originated prior to achieving pest status-in order that the control agent should persist and thus maintain the pest, long term, below its economic threshold. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | Top | ||
