Long red and black bug feeding on gray mass. Credit: 2016 Flickr, Guido Bohne.

Biocontrol Agents

Organisms that do biocontrol

Biocontrol Agents by Type

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.

Adult Bathyplectes anurus and B. curculionis are parasitoid biocontrol agents for alfalfa weevil larvae.

Pests Targeted:  Stable Fly, House Fly
Pest Stage: Pupa
Commercially Available? Yes
Scientific Name: Muscidifurax raptor, Muscidifurax raptorellus
Biocontrol Agent Type: Parasitoid
 

Predators

Predator Biocontrol

The biocontrol agent eats the pest. Learn more about how predator biocontrol works.

Biocontrol Agent Factsheet

Pests Targeted: Thrips, Spider Mites, Aphids, Leafhoppers, Caterpillars, Springtails and Whiteflies.
Commercially Available? Yes
Scientific Name: Orius tristicolor, Orius insidiosus
Biocontrol Agent Type: Predator

 

Rove Beetle

Biocontrol Agent Fact Sheet
These predatory beetles are beneficial to farmers and gardeners, because they can reduce pest populations, also referred to as biological control, however, because rove beetles are generalist predators, they can also reduce populations of beneficial insects such as beneficial predatory mite eggs and nymphs. 

Hover Fly

Biocontrol Agent Factsheet

Pests Targeted:  Aphids, Caterpillars, Leafhoppers, Planthoppers, Mealy Bugs, Thrips
Commercially Available? Yes
Scientific Name: Syrphidae, e.g. Episyrphus balteatus
Biocontrol Agent Type: Predator

Biocontrol Agent Factsheet

Pests Targeted: Aphids, thrips, planthhoppers, leafhoppers, mealy bugs, scale insects
Pest Stage: Larva
Commercially Available? Yes
Scientific Name: Chrysoperla carnea, C. rufilabris
Biocontrol Agent Type: Predator

While our site migration is in progress you can access these predator articles on the older version of the biological control website. 

Beetles

Bugs

Midges

Mites

Apple orchard mite control
Predatory mites (general)

Other predators

Harvestmen

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. 

Beauveria bassiana

Biocontrol Agent Fact Sheet
Beauveria bassiana is a contact mycoinsecticide (an insecticide which contains fungi) that is registered for use in the United States on a wide range of pest insects and can be used on many agricultural and horticultural crops.

Metarhizium spp.

Biocontrol Agent Factsheet
Metarhizium spp. targets a wide range of pests across many insect orders and are known to infect over 200 species of insects, most of which are beetles.

While our site migration is in progress you can access these biopesticide articles on the older version of the biological control website. 

Bacteria

Viruses

Fungi

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.

Agapeta zoegana

Pests Targeted: Spotted knapweed

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

Diffuse Knapweed and Spotted Knapweed Control Agents

Leafy Spurge Control Agents

Melaleuca Control Agent

Mile-a-minute Weed Control Agent

St. Johnswort Control Agent

Tropical Soda Apple

Water Hyacinth Control Agents

Site Migration

While our site migration is in progress you can access these articles on the older version of the biological control website. 

Insect-killing nematodes

Parasitoids

Flies

Wasps

Insect-Killing Nematode Articles

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.