Biocontrol is the ultimate in organic pest management. As an alternative to using the agrichemical pesticides, biology and ecology control pests such as aphids and plant rusts. There are three sub-types of biocontrol: importation, augmentation and conservation.
Importation
New Zealand is a world leader in importation biocontrol. Also called classical biocontrol, it is when an exotic pest is managed by importing one of its natural enemies from its native range. Natural enemies are organisms that attack the pest organism, e.g., they eat or parasitise it.
New Zealand is a world leader in importation biocontrol because our unique native ecosystems have been isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years. Humans have, relatively