Conquer the Pest Control Technician Challenge 2025 – Master Your Skills and Bug Out Success!

The term for the natural enemies of pests, including predators and parasites, is commonly referred to as biocontrol agents. These entities play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling pest populations naturally, thereby reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides.

Biocontrol agents can include a variety of organisms, such as ladybugs that prey on aphids or parasitic wasps that target caterpillars. These natural foes help mitigate pest-related damage by either directly consuming the pests or laying their eggs in or on them, leading to the pests' eventual decline. This approach aligns with environmentally sustainable practices in pest management.

In contrast, chemical controls are synthetic substances used to kill or repel pests, which can have negative environmental impacts and contribute to pest resistance. Mechanical traps refer to physical devices designed to catch pests but do not utilize the natural enemies of those pests. Organic pesticides, while derived from natural sources, do not encompass the broader concept of utilizing the organisms that prey on or parasitize pests.