The mission of the Biological Control Program of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) is to implement and maintain biological control programs to benefit the residents and the environment of the state of NC. 

Many of the insect and plant pests in North Carolina are invasive species introduced from other countries without their native natural enemies. We use ‘classical’ biological control, which is introducing natural enemies from the native range of the pest species to re-establish predator-prey associations, to help reduce pest populations to less harmful levels. The natural enemies we work with have been tested under strict guidelines and are deemed environmentally safe for introduction by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Biological control services provided by the NCDA&CS include research and testing of species for use as possible biological control agents, collection and redistribution of safe and effective control agents, field evaluations of these species, and raising public awareness of biological control. 

The Biological Control Program is housed at the Beneficial Insects Lab and shares the facility with Apiary Inspection Services.  In addition to laboratory and office space, the building houses the NCDA&CS Quarantine Facility which can be used for the study of exotic pests in a secure environment.

Specifics:

Plant Protection Section - Greg Wiggins, Biological Control Administrator 
Mailing Address: 1060 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1060
Physical Address: 950 E Chatham St, Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (984) 477-8030 FAX: (919) 233-8394