Lesson 2: Biological Controls

Are biological controls for pests effective? What is the most effective biological control to apply when a crop is planted?

Doing the science

1. Start the Crop Protection Simulation by clicking on the "Sim" tab.
2. Click on the "Warning" Box, and record the identified pest in Table 1 below, then click on the clip board to close the clipboard.
3. Click on the "Choose Defense" button.
4. Choose Wasp Parasitoid.
5. Click on the red "Done" button to close the clipboard.
6. Click on the "Submit" button. You have now applied the Wasp Parasitoid at planting.
7. Click on the "Choose Defense" button, and unclick the Wasp Parasitoid so no biological or pesticide controls are chosen. Click the red "Done" button to close the clipboard.
8. Click the "Submit" button. No biological controls or pesticides have been applied in the 1st Growth Cycle.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for the remaining cycles.
10. Click on the "History" file cabinet. Record your data in Table 1 below. Each color represents a Cycle: Planting, Stage 1 Growth, Stage 2 Growth, and Preharvest.
11. Click the "Reset" button until the same pest listed in Table 1 appears.
12. Repeat steps 3 to 11, changing the biological controls as listed in Table 1 below. Be sure that you run your trials using the same pest listed in Table 1 below, and that the biological control is only used at planting.