Biocontrol

Biological pest control helps decrease agriculture's reliance on chemical pest control. The Insectary imports, rears, establishes, and colonizes new beneficial organisms for control of specific plant and insect pests. Successful biological pest control reduces production costs, decreases amounts of chemicals entering the environment, and establishes colonies of beneficial insects offering a natural permanent pest control solution.

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Weed and Insect Programs

Approximately 30 weed predators are being cultured, released, and established on weed infestations throughout the State. In addition to the biological weed control programs, this section conducts control programs for the alfalfa weevil, and Oriental fruit moth, with a total of twelve beneficial species. The main function of the Biological Pest Control Section is the rearing and releasing of natural enemies for control of specific plant and insect pests. To request biological pest control please contact our office. This section also acts as the State's receiving station for biological control agents. New biological control programs are being developed primarily by agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture. Foreign exploration produces several new species each year that are known to control introduced plant and insect pests. These exotic species are exposed to a strict quarantine procedure before they become available to cooperating states for general release. This insures that potentially hazardous species are not accidentally introduced with the beneficial insects.

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