Chemical and biological control

of agricultural pests
5.5
 Learning Objectives
All students should know:
• What pests and pesticides are.
Most students should know:
• The features of an efficient pesticide.
• How biological agents are used to control pests.
Some students should know:
• How integrated pest control systems are managed and what
it involves.
 Success Criteria
All Students:
• I can match the key terms associated with its definition, by
completing the cross word activity correctly.
Most students:
• I know the features of pesticides and how they work to control
pests, this was demonstrated by correctly matching the
explanations of these specific terms with the cut and stick
activity.
• I can describe and explain how biological agents are used to
control pests by correctly answering plenary questions.
Some students:
• I can write a detailed account on, why isn’t the use of the cane
toad in Australia a good example of an ‘integrated pest control
system’?
Starter Activity
Across
7. can not be broken down by
micro-organisms.
Down
1. large area of land that contains
only one type of species.
2. toxic chemical used to kill pests.
3. toxic chemical used to kill weed.
4. can be broken down into non-
toxic substances by micro-
organisms.
5. the build up of toxic chemicals.
6. an unwanted organism that
interferes with human activity
and reduces crop yield.
Starter activity: Answer
Across
7. can not be broken down by
micro-organisms.
Down
1. large area of land that contains
only one type of species.
2. toxic chemical used to kill
pests.
3. toxic chemical used to kill
weed.
4. can be broken down into non-
toxic substances by micro-
organisms.
5. the build up of toxic chemicals.
6. an unwanted organism that
interferes with human activity
and reduces crop yield.
 Management of Pests
• Pests are organisms that compete with humans for
food sources and space.

• Controlling pests is important in the agricultural

industry. If not treated properly pests will invade our
crops, damaging human food sources.

• There are two main ways to manage pests:

1. Using pesticides (chemical control)
2. Using predators or parasites (biological control)
 Chemical Control
• Pesticides are toxic chemicals that kill pests. Ideally pesticides
should be:
Selective only kills the species it is supposed to.
Biodegradable can be broken down into non toxic substances.
It should be non toxic to other organisms

Cost effective development cost of pesticides are high and is

only useful for a limited period of time as pest
will become resistant to it over time. How does
this happen?
Not accumulate build up of pesticide in specific parts of an
organism is not ideal as it will be passed along
food chains.
Non mobile stays where it is applied.
 Bioaccumulation
• Bioaccumulation can occur where the pesticide is not broken
down.
• Pesticides tend to be fat soluble and accumulates in the
environment and in food chains. It builds up in the fatty
tissues and can not be excreted as waste product.
• This problem becomes worse as the pesticide progresses
along the food chain. This is because organisms from higher
trophic levels will eat large numbers of organisms from the
lower trophic level.
 Example of Bioaccumulation (1)

→ → →

Low Some pests not Small birds feed on Birds of prey eat
concentration killed, still many insects. many small birds
of pesticide on containing low Building up higher accumulating very
crop concentration concentrations of high concentrations
pesticide pesticide in their of pesticides in their
fatty tissues. fatty tissue.
But not toxic enough These toxic levels
to kill small bird. may kill the bird.
 Example of Bioaccumulation (2)

→ → →

DDT Insecticide DDT in DDT in large fish DDT in fish-eating

in water zooplankton ( 2ppm) birds
(3 x 10-6 ppm) (0.04 ppm) (25ppm )

Another example of bioaccumulation is DDT, it was used as an insecticide to kill

mosquitoes. But insects slowly became resistant to it. High toxicity of DDT was
found in fish which was consumed by birds. As you can see in this food chain
the fish has about 10 times more DDT than zooplankton
 Biological control
• Predators and parasites of the pests can also be used
to control pests. An example of this could be
ladybirds controlling insect pests on citrus fruits.
• Using a biological control does not eradicate the
parasite but controls it, so it is manageable and
natural.
• Ideally the parasite and pests should be in balance
with each other. Where the pest has little effect.
 Differences between chemical and
biological control
Biological control Chemical control

• Can have some effect on other non-

targeted organisms.
• Reapplied at intervals 
expensive
• Pests can develop genetic
• Very specific, chosen predator
resistance to pesticides
would only eat the pest.
overtime.
• Control organism
reproduces itself once it has • Pests does not become
been introduced therefore resistance.
cheaper more cost
effective. • No pollution
 Differences between chemical and
biological control
Biological control Chemical control

• Very specific, chosen predator • Can have some effect on other non-
would only eat the pest. targeted organisms.

• Pests does not become

• Pests can develop genetic
resistance.
resistance to pesticides
• Control organism
overtime.
reproduces itself once it has
been introduced therefore • Reapplied at intervals 
cheaper more cost expensive
effective.
• No pollution
 Integrated pest-control systems
• These systems include both types of controlling methods to
produce a better result for the management of pests.
• This type of control aims to reduce the effects of pest with minimal
impact on the environment.
• Integrated control involves:
1. The introduction of an organism that is better suited to the local
environment and is pest-resistance.
2. Provide suitable habitats for the crops.
3. Monitor crops for signs of pests regularly for earlier prevention.
4. Remove pests when it exceeds the acceptable population level.
5. Use biological agents if necessary
6. If the situation starts to get out of control use pesticide as last
resort.
 Cane Toad Video

You will watch a video on the use of

the cane toad as a method of
biological control. After the video
you will be expected to write the
following account: Why shouldn’t the
cane toad have been used as an
‘biological control system’ in
Australia?
 Pest and Productivity
• Pests often competes with crops for resources. These resources
are often related to the rate of photosynthesis, mineral
consumption or space.
Can you think of any limiting factors of photosynthesis?
• Pests can also affect the human food source by consuming it
themselves, directly competing with humans.
• Both points above shows how pests interfere with crops to
reduce productivity.
• The overall aim of pest control is to balance the cost and
benefits it brings. Farmers often have to think about how to
produce cheap food to satisfy their costumers and make profit.
 Plenary: Summary Questions
1. Pesticides are used to increase productivity.
Explain how their use might sometimes
reduce productivity. (3 marks)
2. State two advantages and two disadvantages
of biological pest control. (4 marks)
3. Weeds are growing amongst wheat in a field.
Explain how these weeds might reduce the
productivity of a crop. (3 marks)
 Peer Assessment: Answers
1. Pesticides will kill most of the pests-reducing its population. This in turn
reduces the population of its predators. (1 mark) However, with no predators
controlling pests after pesticide was introduced, the population of pests
starts to increase. (1 mark) This could be higher than the pest population
before, increasing the effect of pests on the crop – reducing productivity .(1
mark)
2. Advantages: any 2 from: highly specific, targeted only by pest/once
introduced it reproduces itself and does not need to be reapplied/pests do
not become resistant. (2 marks)
Disadvantages: any 2 from: effect id slow as there is a time lag between
application and results/ may itself become a pest or may disrupt the
ecological balance. (2 marks)
3. Weeds compete with the crop for sources (e.g light, water, mineral ion,
space, carbon dioxide..) limiting the supply for crops. (1 mark) This limits the
rate of photosynthesis and therefore reduces productivity. (2 marks)
 Learning Objectives
All students should know:
• What pests and pesticides are.
Most students should know:
• The features of an efficient pesticide.
• How biological agents are used to control pests.
Some students should be able to:
• Know how integrated pest control systems are managed and
what it involves.
 Success Criteria
All Students should know:
• I can match the key terms associated with its definition, by
completing the cross word activity correctly.
Most students should know:
• I know the features of pesticides and how they work to control
pests, this was demonstrated by correctly matching the
explanations of these specific terms with the cut and stick
activity.
• I can describe and explain how biological agents are used to
control pests by correctly answering plenary questions.
Some students should be able to:
• Write a detailed account on, why isn’t the use of the cane toad in
Australia a good example of an ‘integrated pest control system’?