Biological Control of Lepidopteran Pest Species
Summary
Lepidopteran insects account for a substantial proportion of agricultural and forestry damage worldwide, affecting cereals, fruits, vegetables and forest stands. Biological control offers sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides, harnessing natural enemies such as parasitoid wasps, predatory insects, entomopathogenic microorganisms and nucleopolyhedroviruses to suppress pest populations. Classical biological control relies on deliberate introduction of specialised natural enemies into areas where pests have invasive status, while augmentative approaches involve mass rearing and periodic release of beneficial agents. Conservation biological control seeks to enhance the efficacy of indigenous predators and parasitoids by manipulating habitat features and reducing pesticide use. Advances in molecular diagnostics, climate-driven modelling of thermal requirements and studies of trophic interactions have improved our understanding of host–enemy specificity, phenology synchronisation and non-target impacts. Integrated Pest Management frameworks now routinely combine biological control with cultural practices, resistant cultivars and semiochemical-mediated trapping, delivering effective, resilient and environmentally benign strategies for mitigating lepidopteran outbreaks.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Biological Control of Lepidopteran Pest Species publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biological control of lepidopteran pest species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Augmentative release: The mass rearing and periodic release of natural enemies to boost their field populations.
Ectoparasitoid: A parasitoid whose larval stages develop on the external surface of the host organism.
Endoparasitoid: A parasitoid whose larvae develop within the body of the host, ultimately leading to host death.
Instar: A developmental stage of insect larvae between successive moults.
Accumulated degree-days: A measure of heat accumulation used to predict insect development rates based on temperature thresholds.
References
- Temperature Effect on the Growth and Development of Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Reared on Ephestia elutella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larvae. Insects (2024).
- Influence of a diet containing tobacco on the biology of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). European Journal of Entomology (2020).
- External morphology of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) during larval development. Zoologia (Curitiba) (2010).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.