(a) Insect pest management or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a system that, in the context of associated environment and population dynamics of the pest species, utilizes all suitable techniques and methods in as compatible a manner as possible and maintains pest populations at levels below those causing economic injury.
(b) The cultural control is a key component of Integrated Pest Management. Cultural method of pest control involves use of production and management techniques followed by farmers for crop productivity to manipulate pest population. Cultural control consists of introducing minor changes in the farm practices and farm machinery that aids both in agricultural production and pest control.
| S.No. | Cropping Techniques | Pest controlled |
| 1 | Summer ploughing | Red hairy caterpillar of Groundnut |
| 2 | Puddling under lowland condition in paddy cultivation | Rice mealy bug |
| 3 | Pest free seed material | Potato tuber moth, Banana rhizome weevil |
| 4 | High seed rate | Sorghum shootfly |
| 5 | Plant density | Rice Brown planthopper |
| 6 | Trap cropping in cabbage and cauliflower. Trap crop is mustard | Diamond back moth |
| 7 | Earthing up | Sugarcane early ***** borer |
| 8 | Destruction of weed hosts (Tinosporacordifolia) | Citrus fruit sucking moth |
| 9 | Trimming and plastering | Rice grass hopper |
The cropping techniques mentioned above are adopted for the pest control. The cultural control can be effective if practiced at the community level. For example, farm practices like synchronised sowing, crop sanitation, crop rotation have beneficial effect if adopted on a large scale.
(c) Biological control
The study and utilization of parasitoids, predators and pathogens for the regulation of pest population densities is called as biological pest control. The techniques adopted for biological control are as follows:
Conservation and encouragement of indigenous natural enemies
Introduction of natural enemies into a new locality
Mass culturing and release of natural enemies to increase its population.
Parasitoids as a biocontrol:
Parasitoid is an insect parasite of an arthropod which is parasitic in immature stages and adults are free living. e.g.
Trichogrammachilonis on the eggs of sugarcane internode borer, cotton bollworm.
Chelonusblackburni on the eggs of cotton spotted bollworm.
Predators as a biocontrol:
Predator is a free living organism throughout its life. Predator ***** its prey. The predator is usually larger than its prey. e.g.
1.Lady bird beetle (Coccinellaseptumpunctata) against aphids (pest).
- Reduviid bug (Rhinocorisfuscipes) against cotton **** bollworm (Helicoverpaarmigera) (pest)
