Which statement about biological controls is true?

• A. They can be used along with regular pesticides
• B. They must be used exclusively without chemicals
• C. They are ineffective for most pests
• D. They are illegal to import

Answer: (A)

Biological controls are most effective when used as part of an integrated pest management approach, where natural enemies, pathogens, and other biological agents help keep pest numbers in check while reducing reliance on chemical sprays. This means they can be used alongside regular pesticides, not instead of them, to achieve sustainable suppression of pests and often lower environmental impact. In practice, you might release beneficial insects or microbes and still apply a selective pesticide when needed, taking care to avoid harming the beneficials or timing applications so they can do their job. The other statements don’t fit because biological controls aren’t required to exclude chemicals, aren’t ineffective for most pests when properly used, and importing biological controls isn’t inherently illegal if done under appropriate regulations.