Biological control relies on living organisms that must have food and shelter and that interact with the pests, the crop, and the other environmental factors. The pest manager *a farmer, crop consultant, or gardener) should be able to recognize important natural enemies, understand their needs, and know how to maximize their effectiveness. This requires different knowledge and skills than are needed for chemical control. A good understanding of the relationships between pests, their natural enemies, and the environment is essential for success in biological control. The need for this type of knowledge is the rationale for this publication.
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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.