What method of pest management uses natural enemies to control pest populations?

The method of pest management that utilizes natural enemies to control pest populations is biological control. This approach involves the introduction or enhancement of natural predators, parasites, or pathogens that specifically target pest species. By leveraging the natural dynamics of ecosystems, biological control can sustainably reduce pest numbers without the potential negative impacts associated with synthetic pesticides.

This method is advantageous as it can lead to long-term suppression of pests, minimizing the likelihood of resistance development, which can occur more readily with chemical controls. In biological control, the emphasis is on working with nature, promoting a balance in the ecosystem that helps maintain pest populations at manageable levels.

In contrast, options such as mechanical control involve physical methods to remove or block pests, while cultural control refers to practices that modify the environment to make it less conducive to pest infestations. Chemical control focuses on the use of pesticides to eliminate pests, which can have immediate effects but may also carry risks of harming non-target organisms and leading to resistance problems.