What method utilizes natural predators in pest management?

Biological control is a method that involves the use of natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to manage pest populations in an environmentally friendly way. This approach leverages the natural relationships that exist within ecosystems, where certain organisms can suppress the numbers of pest species through predation, competition, or disease transmission.

By introducing or enhancing the populations of beneficial organisms, such as ladybugs to control aphids or parasitic wasps to manage caterpillar pests, biological control works to maintain pest levels below harmful thresholds. This method not only reduces reliance on synthetic pesticides but also fosters a more sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

In contrast, chemical control relies on synthetic or natural pesticides to kill or inhibit pests, cultural control involves practices such as crop rotation and sanitation to prevent pest establishment, and mechanical control employs physical methods like traps or barriers to manage pests. These other methods do not specifically utilize natural predators in their strategies, which is why biological control stands out in this context.