“Biological Control: Managing Pests with Natural Predators”
- What is biological control in pest management?
a) The use of chemicals to eliminate pests
b) The introduction of natural predators or parasites to control pests
c) The modification of pest habitats
d) The physical removal of pestsAnswer: b) The introduction of natural predators or parasites to control pests
Explanation: Biological control involves using natural enemies (predators, parasites, or pathogens) to manage pest populations, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. - Which of the following is an example of a natural predator used in biological control?
a) Ladybugs eating aphids
b) Pesticides killing insects
c) Genetically modified crops
d) Traps for insectsAnswer: a) Ladybugs eating aphids
Explanation: Ladybugs are known to prey on aphids, making them a beneficial organism for biological pest control. - Which is NOT a method of biological control?
a) Using a parasitoid wasp to control caterpillar pests
b) Introducing a predator like the praying mantis
c) Spraying chemical pesticides
d) Releasing beneficial nematodes to kill soil-dwelling pestsAnswer: c) Spraying chemical pesticides
Explanation: Biological control focuses on natural methods, such as using predators, parasites, and pathogens, while chemical pesticides are not part of biological control. - What is a common benefit of using biological control over chemical pesticides?
a) It is less expensive
b) It is more effective at killing all pests
c) It reduces the impact on non-target species and the environment
d) It is fasterAnswer: c) It reduces the impact on non-target species and the environment
Explanation: Biological control methods are often more environmentally friendly because they target specific pests and reduce harm to other species and ecosystems. - Which predator is commonly used to control the population of whiteflies in agriculture?
a) Praying mantis
b) Ladybug
c) Parasitic wasps
d) DragonfliesAnswer: c) Parasitic wasps
Explanation: Parasitic wasps are effective at controlling whiteflies by laying eggs inside the whitefly larvae, which eventually kills them. - Which of the following is an example of a biological control agent that is a pathogen?
a) Ladybug
b) Nematodes
c) Bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis
d) Praying mantisAnswer: c) Bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis
Explanation: Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium used as a biological control agent to kill specific insect larvae by producing toxins. - What is the main goal of biological control?
a) To eradicate all pests
b) To maintain a balance in pest populations
c) To maximize pesticide use
d) To produce genetically modified cropsAnswer: b) To maintain a balance in pest populations
Explanation: The goal is not to eliminate pests entirely but to keep their populations under control, allowing for a balance with natural predators and other species. - Which is a potential disadvantage of using biological control?
a) Non-target species might be harmed
b) It is too costly
c) It works too quickly
d) It requires large amounts of chemical pesticidesAnswer: a) Non-target species might be harmed
Explanation: Biological control agents can sometimes affect non-target species if not carefully managed, leading to unintended ecological consequences. - What role do parasitoids play in biological control?
a) They feed on the pest and kill it instantly
b) They lay eggs inside or on the pest, leading to its death
c) They compete with pests for food
d) They scare pests away from cropsAnswer: b) They lay eggs inside or on the pest, leading to its death
Explanation: Parasitoids, such as certain wasps, lay eggs inside or on pest insects, and the larvae feed on and kill the host. - Which of the following is the key characteristic of a good biological control agent?
a) It must be harmful to humans
b) It should be able to reproduce quickly and outnumber the pest
c) It must be expensive to use
d) It must not survive in the environmentAnswer: b) It should be able to reproduce quickly and outnumber the pest
Explanation: A good biological control agent should be able to establish itself and reproduce rapidly enough to control pest populations effectively. - Which insect is commonly used in biological control to reduce aphid populations?
a) Ants
b) Dragonflies
c) Ladybugs
d) TermitesAnswer: c) Ladybugs
Explanation: Ladybugs are well-known for feeding on aphids and are commonly used in agricultural settings to control aphid populations. - Why is biological control considered a sustainable pest management strategy?
a) It requires less labor
b) It promotes biodiversity and ecosystem health
c) It eliminates the need for any pesticides
d) It works in all situations without failAnswer: b) It promotes biodiversity and ecosystem health
Explanation: Biological control helps maintain biodiversity and ecosystem health by using natural predators, reducing reliance on harmful chemical pesticides. - Which of the following is an example of classical biological control?
a) Releasing parasitoid wasps to control caterpillars
b) Planting insect-repellent crops
c) Using sticky traps to capture pests
d) Spraying plant growth hormonesAnswer: a) Releasing parasitoid wasps to control caterpillars
Explanation: Classical biological control involves the intentional introduction of natural predators or parasites to control a pest species. - What is a potential risk associated with releasing non-native biological control agents?
a) They may not establish in the new environment
b) They may harm non-target species or disrupt local ecosystems
c) They may become a new pest
d) Both b and cAnswer: d) Both b and c
Explanation: Releasing non-native species may lead to unintended consequences such as harming local species or becoming invasive pests themselves. - Which of the following is a method of augmentative biological control?
a) Introducing a predator into a new environment
b) Enhancing the natural populations of existing predators
c) Planting non-native plants to attract predators
d) Altering environmental conditions to favor natural predatorsAnswer: b) Enhancing the natural populations of existing predators
Explanation: Augmentative biological control involves increasing the numbers of natural predators already present in an ecosystem. - Which of these predators is used in biological control to manage the boll weevil?
a) Trichogramma wasps
b) Nematodes
c) Ladybugs
d) Praying mantisAnswer: a) Trichogramma wasps
Explanation: Trichogramma wasps parasitize the eggs of boll weevils, which helps reduce their populations in agricultural fields. - Which of the following statements about biological control is true?
a) It completely eliminates pests without harm to the environment
b) It only works in tropical climates
c) It helps reduce dependence on chemical pesticides
d) It can be used in all cases regardless of the pest typeAnswer: c) It helps reduce dependence on chemical pesticides
Explanation: Biological control is used to reduce reliance on harmful chemicals, though it may not always completely eliminate pests. - What is an example of using predators in biological control?
a) Releasing predatory mites to control spider mites
b) Applying insecticides to kill aphids
c) Using fungicides to reduce plant fungal diseases
d) Removing weeds manually from a fieldAnswer: a) Releasing predatory mites to control spider mites
Explanation: Predatory mites feed on spider mites, making them an effective predator in controlling spider mite populations. - What is the term used for the biological control strategy that involves the release of natural enemies to reduce pest populations?
a) Natural habitat restoration
b) Integrated pest management
c) Classical biological control
d) Genetic engineeringAnswer: c) Classical biological control
Explanation: Classical biological control refers to the release of natural enemies (e.g., predators, parasitoids) to control pest populations. - What type of biological control agent is a virus that targets a specific insect pest?
a) Predator
b) Pathogen
c) Parasitoid
d) CompetitorAnswer: b) Pathogen
Explanation: Pathogens such as viruses can be used to target specific insect pests, reducing their populations in a controlled manner.
