Important Terms used in Biological Control of Crop Pests – III
Ecological Niche:
The place an organism occupies in its biotic relationships and physical environment as determined by its particular structural adaptations, physiological adjustments, and developed behavioral patterns.
Economic Threshold:
A population density concept which allows the determination of the point at which pest numbers are sufficient to cause economic injury unless suppressive action is taken.
Ectoparasitoid:
An insect parasite which develops externally on its arthropod host.
Endoparasitoid:
An insect parasite which develops within the arthropods host.
Endotoxin:
An toxin substance formed by certain bacteria and retained within their vegetative cells (e.g. in Bacillus thuringiensis, the endotoxin occurs as a part of the crystal shaped parasporal body).
Entomogenous:
Refers to organisms (usually micro organisms) growing in or on the bodies of insects.
Entomopathogenic:
Capable of causing disease in insects.
Entomophagous:
Refers to the consumption of insects or their parts, insectivorous.
Entomophilic:
Insect-loving.
Enzootic:
Refers to a disease condition (or sometimes a pest) which is constantly present in an area, but at a low rate of incidence.
Epizootic:
An outbreak of a disease (or sometime a pest) in which is an unusually high number of cases (or density of the pest).
Exotic:
A soluble toxic substance produced by certain bacteria and found in their surrounding growth medium.
Factitious Host:
An unnatural but acceptable host used in laboratory propagation of beneficial organisms.
Facultative Parasitism:
Here in reference to nematodes which may either parasitize healthy insect, or develop in some other way in the environment (e.g. mycetophagy) if no insect host is encountered.
Facultative Pathogen:
A micro organism which is capable of growth and reproduction in either a non living medium or living host; in the latter instance, a disease condition of the host may arise.
Fortuitous Biological Insect Pest Suppression:
The desirable but accidental movement of exotic beneficial organisms to new areas and/or new pests, where pest population suppression eventually results; or the successful population regulation of exotic pests by indigenous natural enemies.