What type of pest control occurs when ladybugs are released to control aphids?

The correct answer is biological control, which involves the use of natural predators or parasites to manage pest populations. In this scenario, releasing ladybugs, which are known to feed on aphids, serves as a natural method to reduce the aphid population. This approach leverages the ecological relationships between species to balance pest populations without the need for synthetic chemicals.

Biological control is often preferred in sustainable agriculture as it minimizes the impact on the environment and other non-target organisms. By deploying ladybugs, farmers can control aphids in a way that promotes ecological health, as ladybugs not only consume aphids but also reproduce, potentially leading to a self-sustaining control measure.

Other options like chemical control involve the use of pesticides, mechanical control includes physical barriers or traps, and cultural control refers to agricultural practices that disrupt pests' life cycles. These methods do not utilize the symbiotic relationships found in biological control, which focuses on using living organisms as a means to manage pests effectively.