Which pest management method uses predators or parasites to control pest populations?

The correct answer is biological control because this method specifically involves the use of natural predators or parasites to manage and reduce pest populations. In biological control, organisms such as insects, bacteria, or fungi are utilized to target and suppress the numbers of harmful pests, ultimately balancing the ecosystem and minimizing the need for synthetic pesticides.

This method is particularly effective in sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management practices, as it leverages natural processes to promote pest control, enhancing biodiversity and reducing environmental impact. By fostering a more natural predator-prey dynamic, biological control can provide longer-term solutions to pest problems without the negative side effects often associated with chemical treatments.

Other management methods focus on different approaches: chemical control typically involves the application of pesticides; mechanical control emphasizes physical barriers or manual removal of pests; and cultural control pertains to practices that modify the environment to make it less conducive to pest infestations, such as crop rotation or proper sanitation methods. Each of these methods has its place in pest management, but they do not use biological agents in the same way that biological control does.