In pest management, what does biological control entail?

Biological control is a method in pest management that focuses on the use of natural organisms to control pest populations. This involves implementing strategies that utilize natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to suppress pest species. By harnessing these natural enemies, biological control seeks to maintain pest populations at acceptable levels without the need for synthetic chemicals, thus promoting ecological balance and sustainability.

This approach is particularly effective because it can target specific pests without harming beneficial organisms in the environment. It also reduces reliance on chemical pesticides, which may have negative environmental impacts and contribute to pest resistance. Utilizing natural solutions aligns well with integrated pest management strategies, as it emphasizes long-term pest control while minimizing ecological disruption.

The other options do not accurately represent biological control. Using toxic chemicals refers to chemical control methods, population control measures may include various tactics but do not specifically focus on natural biological processes, and establishing pest-free zones is a form of prevention and does not involve leveraging natural biological interactions.