The first principle of its control is its identification. After its identification , we can refer to the available information on the biology and habits of that insect and determine its most vulnerable stage, that appropriate time and most suitable methods to control it.

Some of the important methods for the control are:

Physical and mechanical control:

This is the oldest used method and includes measures such as collection of egg masses and other inactive stages, the removal and destruction of infested parts of whole plants, the beating of drums or tins and trenching. This method can prove to be effective during the initial stage of the pest incidence.

Cultural Control:

This is a preventive method which is inexpensive and may prove effective and efficient, if employed after acquiring a thorough knowledge of the life history and habits of a pest. Deep ploughing after harvesting a crop (to expose the hiding or resting insects) the removing and destroying of the stubble and other trash, adjusting the time of sowing (to avoid the peak-incidence period), clean cultivation, the removal of alternative wild host, catch crops and suitable rotations are some of the important measures included under this method of control.

Host plant resistance:

This method involves the utilization of the inherent property of certain strains or varieties of crops, of being less infested or less damaged than other strains or varieties of the same crop. Enormous economic benefits have been achieved by using this method in the case of crops e.g. wheat, maize, cotton etc.

Biological control: It involves a large-scale multiplication and liberation of such agents, or creating conditions under which the naturally occurring agents can act effectively. This type of control cannot be undertaken by individual farmers and has necessarily to be carried out by specialized agencies.

Legislative or regulatory method.

This is a specific method employed to prevent the introduction of pests from other countries or to prevent the spread of a pest from one area to another. The method is operated through specific regulations known as plant-quarantine laws.

Chemical Control

This method is very popular. Hundreds of insecticides are now available to control different insect pests. These are used mainly as dusts, sprays or granules on the crops; dusts and granules can also be incorporated into the soil for the control of soil-inhabiting insects.