Definition:
NATURAL REGULATION: Of whitefly populations is the action of nature without intervention by man. Populations of whiteflies (or any other pests) may be held in check by weather and/or by natural enemies to a greater or lesser extent. If this natural regulation did not exist, then damage to crops would be very much worse than it currently is. It is known that some plantings can be destroyed totally by insect pests, so why have not all such plantings been destroyed? Obviously, something helps to suppress pest populations, even though not to the extent that people would like, and this "something" is the combined effects of weather and native natural enemies. The worst-case scenario of total destruction of crops does not often occur, so natural regulation, a gift of nature, is worth a lot of money. The aim of biological control (an action by man) is to use whichever of the natural enemies that can be manipulated to improve on the suppressive effects provided by nature.