Which option is an example of a biological control for roaches?

• A. Sterile males
• B. Parasitic wasp
• C. Habitat modification
• D. Bacteria

Answer: (A)

Biological control uses living organisms to reduce pest numbers. Releasing sterile males is a classic example: the sterile males mate with wild females, but no offspring result. Each mating reduces the next generation, so the population declines over time without using chemical pesticides. This approach is species-specific and can lessen dependence on insecticides, especially for pests like roaches where contact-killing methods may be less effective long-term.

Parasitic wasps target other pests and aren’t practical for cockroaches in most settings. Habitat modification is a cultural control—altering the environment to make it less favorable for roaches—rather than using another organism. Bacteria can kill some pests, but microbial controls against roaches aren’t as reliably effective or straightforward as a sterile-male release strategy.