Meet the biocontrol agents
Parasitoids
Parasitoid Biocontrol
The immature biocontrol agent grows and develops in or on the pest, killing it in the process. Both insects and nematodes fall into this category. Learn more about how parasitoid biocontrol works.
While our site migration is in progress you can access these parasitoid articles on the older version of the biological control website.
Wasps
- Anaphes flavipes by Richard Bean and Ashley Ciaglo
- Atanycolus cappaerti by Ian Lane
- Bathyplectes anurus and B. curculionis
- Catolaccus grandis by Juan Morales-Ramos
- Cotesia glomerata
- Diadegma insulare
- Diadromus pulchellus
- Encarsia formosa by Mark Hoddle
- Encarsia inaron by Charles H. Pickett
- Eretmocerus eremicus by Mark Hoddle
- Eriborus terebrans
- Ibalia leucospoides ensiger by Derek Robertson and Kamal Gandhi
- Lysiphlebus testaceipes
- Macrocentrus cingulum (=grandii) Brischke by William R. Morrison III
- Metaphycus alberti by Steve Stauffer
- Muscidifurax raptor
- Nealiolus curculionis
- Peristenus digoneutis by William H. Day
- Pholetesor ornigis
- Tamarixia radiata by Jawwad A. Qureshi and Philip A. Stansly
- Trichogramma ostriniae by Mike Hoffmann
- Trissolcus basalis
- Trissolcus euschisti by Kristin Deroshia (updated 3/5/2015)
Flies
- Pseudacteon spp. by Lloyd W. Morrison
- Trichopoda pennipes updated by Charles H. Pickett
Predators
Predator Biocontrol
The biocontrol agent eats the pest. Learn more about how predator biocontrol works.
While our site migration is in progress you can access these predator articles on the older version of the biological control website.
Beetles
- Lady Beetles
- Chilocorus kuwanae
- Chilocorus stigma, by Kirsten Fondren
- Coccinella septempunctata
- Coleomegilla maculata
- Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
- Harmonia axyridis
- Hippodamia convergens
- Sasajiscymnus tsugae, by Carole Cheah and Mark McClure
- Rodolia cardinalis
- Stethorus punctillum, by Eric W. Riddick and Brian Spencer
- Stethorus punctum
- Lady Beetle Special: Lady beetle, lady beetle fly away from my home!
- Lebia grandis, by Donald C. Weber and Eric Riddick
- Aleochara bilineatis
Bugs
- Campylomma verbasci,by Bradley S. Higbee
- Deraeocoris nebulosus, by David Boyd, Jr.
- Geocoris spp., by James Hagler and Nicole Sanchez, September 2011
- Orius spp.
- Podisus maculiventris
Lacewings
- Chrysoperla carnea/Chrysoperla rufilabris
- Hemerobius spp., by Kirsten Fondren
Flies
- Syrphid fly by Aloy Gu
Midges
Mites
Apple orchard mite control
- Galendromus (=Typhlodromus, =Metaseiulus) occidentalis
- Galendromus (=Typhlodromus) pyri
- Neoseiulus (=Amblyseius) fallacis
- Zetzellia mali
Predatory mites (general)
- Euseius tularensis, by Elizabeth Grafton-Cardwell
- Phytoseiulus persimilis
Other predators
Harvestmen
- Phalangium opilio, by Mark Schmaedick
Biopesticides
Biopesticide Biocontrol
Microorganisms or microbes (fungi, bacteria and viruses) and plant extracts can reduce pest populations by killing, repelling, excluding them, or by hampering their growth or reproduction. They can also boost the defenses of a plant, making it more resilient against pest attack. Learn more about how biopesticide biocontrol works.
While our site migration is in progress you can access these biopesticide articles on the older version of the biological control website.
Bacteria
- Bacillus thuringiensis, by Z. P. Cohen (updated 2/25/2015)
- Paenibacillus popilliae
Viruses
- Baculoviruses - by Vince D'Amico
Fungi
- Entomophaga grylli, with contributions by Mark Ramos
- Entomophaga maimaiga
- Entomophthora muscae, by D. W. Watson
- Metarhizium, by Todd Ugine
Insect-killing nematodes
Insect-killing nematode Biocontrol
Nematodes are tiny worms. Some of them reproduce inside insects, killing in the process. They are called entomopathogenic nematodes, or EPNs. Learn more about how insect-killing nematode biocontrol works.
While our site migration is in progress you can access these nematode articles on the older version of the biological control website.
- Deladenus siricidicola (=Beddingia siricidicola) , by Elizabeth Erin Morris
- Mermis nigrescens, by John L. Capinera
- Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, by Michael Wilson and Randy Gaugler
Weed-Feeders
Weed-Feeder Biocontrol
Biocontrol agents that control weed pests can either be insects (which feed on weeds) or microbes (which infect/cause disease on weeds). Learn more about how weed-feeder biocontrol works.
While our site migration is in progress you can access these weed feeder articles on the older version of the biological control website.
Alligatorweed Control Agent
Dalmatian Toadflax and Yellow Toadflax Control Agents
- Brachypterolus pulicarius, by Rich Hansen
- Calophasia lunula, by Rich Hansen
- Eteobalea intermediella, by Rich Hansen
- Eteobalea serratella, by Rich Hansen
- Gymnetron antirrhini, by Rich Hansen
- Gymnetron linariae, by Rich Hansen
- Gymnetron netum, by Rich Hansen
- Mecinus janthinus, by Rich Hansen
Diffuse Knapweed and Spotted Knapweed Control Agents
- Agapeta zoegana, by Ronald Lang
- Bangasternus fausti, by Ronald Lang
- Chaetorellia acrolophi, by Ronald Lang
- Cyphocleonus achates, by Ronald Lang
- Larinus minutus, by Ronald Lang
- Larinus obtusus, by Ronald Lang
- Metzneria paucipunctella, by Ronald Lang
- Pelochrista medullana, by Lincoln Smith
- Pterolonche inspersa, by Ronald Lang
- Sphenoptera jugoslavica, by Ronald Lang
- Terellia virens, by Ronald Lang
- Urophora affinis, by Ronald Lang
- Urophora quadrifasciata, by Ronald Lang
Leafy Spurge Control Agents
- Aphthona abdominalis, by Rich Hansen
- Aphthona cyparissiae, by Rich Hansen
- Aphthona czwalinae, by Rich Hansen
- Aphthona flava, by Rich Hansen
- Aphthona lacertosa, by Rich Hansen
- Aphthona nigriscutis, by Rich Hansen
- Chamaesphecia hungarica, by Rich Hansen
- Hyles euphorbiae, by Rich Hansen
- Oberea erythrocephala, by Rich Hansen
- Spurgia esulae, by Rich Hansen
Melaleuca Control Agent
Mile-a-minute Weed Control Agent
- Rhinoncomimus latipes, by J. Hough-Goldstein
- Musk (Nodding) Thistle and Plumeless Thistle Control Agents
- Rhinocyllus conicus, by L. T. Kok
- Trichosirocalus horridus, by L. T. Kok
- Purple Loosestrife Control Agents
- Gallerucella calmariensis, G. pusilla
- Hylobius transversovittatus
St. Johnswort Control Agent
Chrysolina quadrigemin, by Rodrigo Diaz
Tropical Soda Apple
Gratiana boliviana, by Rodrigo Diaz