Biological Control 2

Synopsis

Biological control can be one of the most effective of all methods of pest control - self-regulating, safe and very cost-effective - but it has a limited success rate. There is interest in improving the selection of control agents by applying theoretical principles of predator/prey interactions in puopulation dynamics. Looks at the problems and successes of setting up a project concerned with the eradication of an insect pest of cassava in eastern Africa. Shows the classic study of the winter moth ‘Operophtera brumata’ in Whtham Wood and the success in Canada of the parasitic fly ‘Cyzenis sp.' in controlling the moth when it became a pst in the 1950s. Laboratory experiments demonstrate the searching behaviour of a parasitic wasp ‘Venturia sp.' attacking flour moth caterpillars.

Series

Ecology, Course S326

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 25 min.

Year of production

1986

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Subjects

Biology; Environmental science

Keywords

animal predators; biological pest control; insect pests; parasitic animals

Credits

Producer

Mike Gunton

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

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