Biological Control of Tea Pests

Abstract

Biological control refers to management and regulation of natural biotic forces to suppress pest populations to a level below the economic injury. Identification of naturally occurring predators, parasitoids and pathogens prevalent in tea ecosystem is the first step toward their conservation, augmentation and manipulation. If possible, introduction of exotic biotic agents may also be encouraged. For example, by introducing an exotic parasitoid, Macrocentrus homonae Nixon (Braconidae) from Indonesia into Sri Lanka, a serious tortricid pest, Homona coffiaria Nietner was controlled which is one of the classical biocontrol example in tea (Cranham, 1966a; Evans, 1952; Gadd, 1941).