PREDATOR-PREY SYSTEMS IN PEST MANAGEMENT

Carolyn R. Harper

Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 1990, vol. 20, issue 01, 9

Abstract: The use of chemical pesticides frequently causes minor pests to become serious problems by disturbing the natural controls that keep them in check. As a result, it is possible to suffer heavier crop losses after pesticides are introduced than before their introduction. Efficient use of pesticides requires complete biological modeling that takes the appropriate predator-prey relationships into account. A bioeconomic model is introduced involving three key species: a primary target pest, a secondary pest, and a natural enemy of the secondary pest. Optimal decision rules are derived and contrasted with myopic decision making, which treats the predator-prey system as an externality. The issue of resistance in the secondary pest is examined briefly.

Keywords: Crop; Production/Industries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1990
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:nejare:28823

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.28823

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