NEET2008ZoologyOrganisms and PopulationsActual
One of the major difficulties in the biological control of insect pest is that
Options
- Athe predator develops a preference to other diets and may itself become a pest
- Bthe predator does not always survive when transferred to a new environment
- Cthe method is less effective as compared with the use of insecticides
- Dthe practical difficulty of introducing the predator to specific areas.
Correct answer
A. the predator develops a preference to other diets and may itself become a pest
Step-by-step solution
The predator develops a preference to other diets and can give unforeseen negative results that could outweigh all benefits. For example, when the mongoose was introduced in Hawaii in order to control the rat population, it preyed on the endemic birds of Hawaii, especially their eggs, more often than it ate the rats. As most of the birds feed on insect and keep insect population low. The mangoose who destroy birds acts as secondary pest.