Scripts

Simulation 7: Introducing biological pest control: a parasitoid In simulation 6 we simulated the effect of a predator. The predator helps keeping the pest population at a lower level, but the population size of the predator does not depend on the pest population. Now we will introduce a different kind of natural enemy: a very […]

Simulation 8: Biological pest control with predator and parasitoid In simulations 6 and 7 we simulated the effect of a predator and a parasitoid. Now we will combine the two into one model. We will end up with a model where we have three insect populations (pest, predator and parasitoid) developing side by side. You

Simulation 9: Combination of biological and chemical control In simulation 8 we had already developed a rather complex model with three species (a pest, a predator and a parasitoid) interacting with each other. We have seen that the predator and parasitoid manage to keep pest populations at levels below the maximum capacity (K1). Now let’s

On these pages I will show step by step how to create a computer model to simulate pest control. We will start by creating a model to simulate the population growth of an insect population (the pest). Then we will make models to control this pest population. First we will simulate pest control using pesticides

Simulation 1: The development of an insect population Insect populations can multiply rapidly because female insects lay many eggs, often several hundred eggs per female. Let’s see what happens if one female insect lays 250 eggs. If all 250 eggs survive, and if 50% of the eggs is male and 50% female, this female would

Introduction This page gives background information on a simulation model that was written to see how insect populations can be regulated by parasitoids, predators and other mortality factors. Click here to start the simulation Insect population dynamics Insect populations can grow very rapidly. There are two reasons for this. One reason is that insects have