Which statement best defines biological control in pest management and provides a valid example?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement best defines biological control in pest management and provides a valid example?

Biological control relies on living organisms to reduce pest numbers by exploiting natural relationships such as predation, parasitism, or disease. Using Trichogramma wasps to parasitize pest eggs is a classic example: these tiny wasps lay eggs inside pest eggs, and the developing wasp prevents the pest from hatching, lowering the next generation and helping keep the pest population in check. The other statements describe methods that don’t involve living organisms acting on pests. Chemical pesticides rely on chemicals, and mechanical traps use non-biological means. While the sterile insect technique is a biological approach, it aims to reduce reproduction and is not guaranteed to eradicate pests, making the egg-parasitoid example the clearer illustration of biological control.

Biological control relies on living organisms to reduce pest numbers by exploiting natural relationships such as predation, parasitism, or disease. Using Trichogramma wasps to parasitize pest eggs is a classic example: these tiny wasps lay eggs inside pest eggs, and the developing wasp prevents the pest from hatching, lowering the next generation and helping keep the pest population in check.

The other statements describe methods that don’t involve living organisms acting on pests. Chemical pesticides rely on chemicals, and mechanical traps use non-biological means. While the sterile insect technique is a biological approach, it aims to reduce reproduction and is not guaranteed to eradicate pests, making the egg-parasitoid example the clearer illustration of biological control.

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