Biological control can be used to control pests and the damage they cause in gardens, landscapes, agricultural, range and wildlands.
What is biological control? Biological control is using natural enemies to reduce the numbers of pests. Natural enemies include: predators, parasites, pathogens and competitors. Pests include: pest insects, mites, weeds, pathogens, nematodes and vertebrate pests.
Using biological control methods can reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides. Reducing pesticide and herbicide use is beneficial to improving water quality.
To learn more about biological control, please see UC’s Natural enemies gallery. Resources include:
- Biological control and natural enemies pest note
- Narrated presentation on biological control
- Meet the beneficials: Natural enemies of garden pests
- Descriptions and identification of many predators and parasitoids commonly found on California farms and landscapes
- And much more
Natural enemies resources in Spanish can be found towards the bottom of this page.
Most of these resources are available at no charge. However, some are priced publications. When ordering online, please use promo code PRVEN56 to receive 10% off your order, plus a portion of the purchase price will go towards supporting local programs.
Interested in learning, but not purchasing? Priced publications can be viewed in our office. Please contact us in advance to ensure publication will be available upon your arrival.
- beneficial insects
- commercial agriculture
- disease
- greenhouse production
- home gardening
- Initiative A Clean Water
- Initiative C Sharing Science
- Initiative D Sustaining Ecosystems
- Initiative F Families and Communities
- Initiative G Safe Food
- Initiative H Managing Pests
- Initiative I Energy for the Future
- IPM
- landscape professionals
- natural resources
- nursery production
- pests
- Spanish language resource
- water quality