Biological control is the use of natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, pathogens) as pest control agents.
Currently, the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is importing natural enemy wasps such as fopius arisanus parasitoid from Hawaii (US) and the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya for augumentive releases in targeted areas. This particular parasitoid is an egg-larval parasitoid and thus, kills these two immature stages of the pest during its own growth hence becoming our ally in our fight against the pest. Natural enemies attacking all developmental stages of fruit flies exist, but their use in fruit fly control alone is not satisfactory.
Natural enemies however, provide a useful component of IPM and practices for conservation of local natural enemy fauna and introduced ones should be encouraged. These include judicious application of pesticides if and only when required. Elements in the agro-ecosystem that could be manipulated to enhance natural enemy effectiveness could be identified and exploited as appropriate through research.
Answered by Pontiano Nemeye
