Pests and Biological Control

Question 1

What are the advantages of pesticides?

Answer 1

• Reduces pest population instantly
• Can kill the whole population of pests

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of pesticides?

Answer 2

-Cost (need for regular application)
-Not specific (eg will kill pollinating insects in addition to pests)
- Pest can become resistant to chemical
- Chemical can concentrate in all organisms higher up and lead to bio accumulation

Question 3

What are the advantages of biological control?

Answer 3

• Organism only introduced once as it will reproduce
• Only one cost for initial production
• Pest specific
• Pest will not become resistant
• No effect on other animals in food chain

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of biological control?

Answer 4

-Takes time to reduce pest population
-Not all population killed
- Expensive if re-populating required