The document discusses biocontrol agents and their uses. It begins with an introduction to biocontrol and then describes the different types of biocontrol agents including parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogens. Specific examples are provided for each type. The document also discusses the history of biocontrol, techniques such as introduction, augmentation and conservation. It notes the merits of biocontrol including being environmentally friendly and cost effective, and potential demerits such as not completely destroying pests. In conclusion, it emphasizes creating awareness, fully utilizing existing biocontrol laboratories, and obtaining information to ensure success of biocontrol programs.

1. Anything can wait ,But not Agriculture...

2. Course Seminar
On
Bio-control agents and their uses
Mr. R. N. NISHAD
Ph. D. Scholar
Department of Entomology
Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology,
Faizabad – 224229 (U.P.)

3. Highlights:
Introduction
History
Types of Bio-control agent
◦ Parasitoids
◦ Predators
◦ Entomopathogens
Uses of Bio-control agents
Merit & demerit of Bio-control
Conclusion

4. What is bio-control?
Bio-control can be simply defined as the
application of one living organism to control
another.
Bio-control is a method of controlling pests
such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases
by using other organisms. This process is also
referred to a biological control.

5. The production of food grain should increase to 250 million
tones by the year 2020 in order to meet the needs of the growing
population. The environmental pollution caused by excessive use and
misuse of agrochemicals, has led to considerable changes in people’s
attitudes towards the use of pesticides in agriculture. So in present
scenario biological control have significant role in reduce the effects of
pests and diseases along with environmental effects. Biocontrol have
important role in IPM today with following aspects.
(1) Biological control is less costly and cheaper than any other
methods.
(2) Biocontrol agents give protection to the crop throughout the crop
period.
(3) They do not cause toxicity to the plants.
(4) Application of biocontrol agents is safer to the environment and to
the person who applies them.
(5) They multiply easily in the soil and leave no residual problem.
(6) It increases the crop yield .
(7) Biocontrol agents are very easy to handle and apply to the target.
(8) Biocontrol agent can be combined with bio-fertilizers.
(9) They are easy to manufacture.
Continued..

6. Biological control practices involve 3 major techniques ,i.e.
Introduction
Augmentation
Conservation.
1. Introduction or classical biological control: It is
deliberate introduction and establishment of natural
enemies to a new locality where they did not occur or
originate naturally.
2. Augmentation: It is the mass rearing and releasing of
natural enemies to supplement the numbers of naturally
occurring natural enemies .
3. Conservation: It is the action taken to preserve and
increase natural enemies by environmental manipulation.
The microbial biocontrol agents are applied in field
generally by 3 ways; i. Seed treatment ii. Soil application
iii. Foliar application.
Continued..
Sources: www.wikipedia.com

7. HISTORY OF BIO-CONTROL
900 A.D. – First time use of insect predators, red ants
( Oecophylla smaragdina) by Chinese growers to control leaf
chewing insects.
1762- Introduction of Indian mynah bird, Gracula religiosa
from India to control red locust, Nomadacris septemfaciata.
1888- First successful control of insect cottony cushion
scale ( Icerya purchasi) a pest of citrus in California by using
a predator, Vedalia beetle( Rodalia cardinalis )on large scale.
1898- Predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri introduced
from Austr.alia into South India for control for citrus mealy
bug.
1929- Rodalia cardinalis introduced into India (TN) for
control of insect cottony cushion scale ( Icerya purchasi).
Sources: Reddy, D.S. (2014) Applied entomology

8. Continued..
1937- Aphelinus mali introduced in to Coonor (TN, India)
from North America to control apple wooly aphid, Eriosoma
lanigerum.
1960- Spogosia bezziana (Tachinid parasitoids) introduced
from Srilanka into India for control of black headed caterpillar,
Opisina arenosella
1979- Eswarmoorthy and David first reportd granulosis visus
infection of Chilo infuscatellus.
1981- India first private insectary, Biocontrol Research
laboratory was established at Banglore.
Bio-control Organization in India
Nation Bureau of Agriculturally important insects
[Formely Project Directorate of Biological Control
(PDBC) ] was established in 1993 at Bangalore,
Karnataka, India.

9. Types of bio-control agents:
1. Parasitoids
2. Predators
3. Entomopathogens
i. Entomopathogenic bacteria
ii. Baculoviruses
iii. Entomo-fungi
iv. Protozoans
v. Entomopathogenic Nematodes(EPN)

10. Bio-agents
Parasitoids
An organism that
during its development
lives in or the body of
single host individuals,
eventually kill that host
in the process of
parasitism.

11. Egg Parasitoids
Trichogramma spp. (Small
Wasp)
•Length – 0.4-0.7mm
•Egg period – 16-24 hrs
•Larval period – 2-3 days
•Pre pupal period – 2 days
•Pupal period – 2-3 days
•Total life cycle – 8-10 days (summer)
9-12 days (winter)
•Host: Lepidopteran pests

12. Species Quantity &
Application
Insect Crop
T. chilonis 50000-100000
pupa/ha , 4-6
time at 8-10
days interval
Stem borer,
DBM, shoot &
fruit borer
Okra, Brinjal,
sugarcane,
maize, Cole
crops .
T. japonicum 50000-75000
pupa/ha, 4-6
time at 8-10
days interval
Stem borer,
leaf roller ,
shoot & fruit
borer.
Sugarcane ,
paddy, Brin.jal
T. brasiliensis 50000-75000
pupa/ha, 4-6
time at 8-10
days interval
Fruit borer and
Boll worms
Cotton, tomato
T. pretiosum 50000-75000
pupa/ha4-6
time at 8-10
days interval,
Fruit borer,
DBM
Cotton ,
tomato,
cauliflower
T. bactrae 50000-75000
pupa/ha, 4-6
time at 8-10
days interval
DBM Cole crops .
Application of Tricogramma spp.

13. Found all over India
where pyrilla is present.
Parasitization:60%
eggs of pyrilla.
More effective in July
to October & November
Telenomus spp. & Tetrastichus spp
Egg Parasitoid
Tetrastichus spp. & Telenomus spp.

14. Larval Parasitoids
Habitat-
Sugarcane,chickpea
,pigeonpea and
paddy.
Adult female lay
eggs on larvae and
parasitized it.
Female has 16
mm long ovipositor
Sugarcane borers
are more attacked
Apanteles (Cotasia spp.)
Campolestis chloridae against Helicoverpa
armigera
Platygaster oryzae against rice gall midge

15. Pupal parasitoids:
Poliphagous pupal
parasitoid
Occurance- near
irrigated field
Use against coconut
black headed
caterpillar
Xanthopimpla Spp.

16. Epiricania melenoleuca
Adult and Nymphal
parasitoid
Against Pyrilla perpusilla
Parasitization- 70-90percent.
Fecundity- more than 1000 eggs.
Rainfall – favorable for breeding.
Life cycle - 10-13days(summer),
14-20 days (winter).
Use– 8,000-10,000 cocoons/ ha.
Or 80,000-1,00,000 eggs/ha.
When pests density reached 5-7
pyrilla/leaf.

17. Predators
They consume several to many prey
over the course of their development, they
are free living, and they are usually as big
or bigger than their prey. Some predators,
including certain syrphid fly and the
common green lacewing, are predaceous
only as larvae. Other predators are found
in the field in different cropping system
are lady beetle, rove beetle, damsel fly,
dragon fly, mirid bug, ground beetle, and
praying mantis, Conobartha aphidivora,
Spiders etc.

18. Chrysoperla carnea
Predaceous stage – larva
•Egg period – 3-4 days.
•Larval period – 11-13 days.
•Pupal period – 5-7 days.
•Total life cycle – 35 days.
• Fecundity 300 - 400 eggs.
•Control- 80-90 per cent.
•Predaceuos for – Egg, Aphid,
Whitefly, Thrips, Small size larvae
and Hoppers.etc.
• Use @ 50,000-1,00,000 eggs/ ha or
500-1000 Adults/ha, 2 times at15
days interval.

19. Syrphid Fly
 Adult like honey
bees (Pollinator).
 Larvae white green
and light brown
(Predator).
 Aphids are main
pray.

20. Lady Beetles
Many species
Eat soft-bodied insects,
especially aphids
Larvae unrecognized
It reduce the population
of aphids Up to 75%
Life cycle: 30 days.

21. Conobartha (Depha) aphidevora
Predator of sugarcane wooly aphid
Control: 90
percent insects
Precaution: no
chemical insecticide
spray

22. Rove beetle
(Predator)
Damsel fly
(Predator)
Ground beetle
(Predator)
Mird bug
(Predator)
Praying mantis
(Predator)
Dragon fly
(Predator)
Other predators

23. ENTOMOPATHOGENS

24. presented by Dr. Gaje Singh in
Training on Mass Production of Bio-
agents
Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.)
Mode of action: Bt. Endo-toxin
Attack on mid gut (high pH- 9.0
alkaline)
•Larvae consume foliage treated
with Bt.(spores and crystals)
•Within minute toxin bind with
specific receptor in mid gut wall.
• Within hours mid gut wall
broken down, allowing spores to
enter the body cavity (hemocoel)
• In 1-2 days larvae die from
septicemia.
1.Bacteria

25. •Symptoms :
•Affected larvae become inactive – stop feeding –
regurgitate or watery excrement
• Head capsule large than body size and larvae
become flaccid & die.
•Body content turn towards black as they
decompose
B.t. infected Helicoverpa Larvae

26. Crop Insect Dosage (Kg. per
ha.)
Cauliflower, Cabbage DBM,Cabbage
butterfly
1.0-1.50
Brinjal Stemborer,Fruit borer 0.5-1.50
Tomato, Cotton, Okra, Chick
pea, Sun flower
Fruit borer 1.0-1.50
Cauliflower, Cabbage, Cotton Tobacco cater pillar 1.00
Crop wise application and dose against different insect
Use of Bt species:
• Lepidoptera (Bt. Kurstaki & aizawai)
•Coleoptera (Bt. tenebrionis)
•Diptera (Bt. israeliensis)
Application

27. Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus(NPV)
• Infection of baculovirus generally
occur by ingestion of occluded or free
virion.
•Ingested virion infect mid gut –
occluded bodies dissolve by protease
enzyme and free virion reach hemocoel,
circulatory system and respiratory
system and attack there.
2.Virus

28. presented by Dr. Gaje Singh in
Training on Mass Production of Bio-
agents
Symptoms: occur after 5-7 days of infection
•Gradual change in colour (infected larvae change
light to dark brown )
•heamolymph turns cloudy and milky
•Larvae become less active and losses appetite
•Shortly before dying larvae move away from food
and climb on elevated location to hang.
• Prior to death integument fragile and easily torn
when handled and it is typical system of NPV.

29. Dose: 250 larval Equivalent
(L.E.)/ha.
Solution Preparation: NPV
may be mixed with water along
with jaggry and soap powder.
Spray Time: Evening Hours
Larvae Stage: 1st and 2nd
Instar
Killing Time: 4-6 days
Application

30. Beauveria sp. infected Helicoverpa
Beauveria spp & Metarhizium spp.
Metarrhizium sp. infected
white grub
•Spores (conidia) contact with integument, germinate and develop hyphae.
•Hyphae enter in hemocoel and develop mycelium.
•Produce toxin – insect die.
•Dead insects have spores in and out side of their body and spread in
environment.
3.Fungi

31. Fungus Dosage/Application Crop Insect
Beauveria
bassiana
(White
muscardine
fungus )
Soil- 2-.2.5 kg/ha. with 25-50 kg
FYM/acre
Foliar- 5-7 g/lit water along with jaggary
Drenching- 2 kg in 400 lit of water/acre
along with jaggary
Chick pea,
Pigeon pea,
Cotton,
Tomato, Rice,
Cabbage
Fruit borer,
Tobacco cater pillar,
Semilooper,
Termite, BPH,
Grass hopper, Leaf
folder, DBM, Aphid
Metarrhizium
anisopliae
(Green
muscardine
fungus)
Soil- 2-.2.5 kg/ha. with 25-50 kg
FYM/acre
Foliar- 5-7 g/lit water along with jaggary
Drenching- 2 kg in 400 lit of water/acre
along with jaggary .
Sugarcane,
Cotton,
Pigeon pea.
Tomato
Pyrilla, Fruit borer,
Grasshopper, Pod
borer, Rice bug
Application

32. Protozoa pathogen
Protozoa kill the insects either directly or by reducing the
fecundity of the adult and their effect on host is chronic.
They prolong the larval life in the field, thus exposing the
insect longer to predators and parasitoids.
Infected insect may be sluggish and smaller than normal
eg. Nosema melolonthae against chaffer beetles.
Nosema locustae against grass hoppers
Farinosystis triboli against red flour beetle

33. EPNs are soil inhabiting,
lethal insect parasitoids, live
inside the body of the host,
and so they are designeted
endoparasitic. The most
commonly studied genera
are those that are useful in
the biological control of insect
pests the Steinernema and
Heterorhabditis

35. Merits and Demerits of Bio-control agents
Merits
•The biological control agents are environmentally friendly
and cause no side effects.
•Less cost compared to other Agrochemicals – pesticides
and insecticides.
•Easily available, easy to use and is effective throughout the
season.
•Helps in reducing the use of chemicals and other
pesticides.
Demerits
•It affects the product quality.
•Pest is not completely destroyed by these biological control
agents.
•It is effective only for large scale.
(Sources: https://byjus.com/biology/bio-control-agents/)

36. Conclusion:
 The government/federation/commodities/boards should make all
efforts to create awareness regarding the conservation and
utillisation of biocontrol agents.
 The full utilization of existing bio-control laboratories of
central/state government should be ensured by providing staff
and funds so that efficiency, productivity and quality may
be improved to the required level.
 The best advice for pest managers in respect to starting
biocontrol program is to get as much information as possible to
assure a reasonable success.
 The policy of the Central government, State governments, Non-
Government Organizations (NGOs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra
(KVKs) should be to train officials and farmers with a view to
create critical human resource in biological control.
 Low cost technology for mass production of bio-
agents/biopesticides should be developed .
 Encouraging the setting up of biocontrol production units at
village level which could be managed unemployed, on a youth a
seasoned basis.