# Optimal Spraying in Biological Control of Pests

## TL;DR

This paper applies optimal control theory to determine the most effective spraying strategies for pest management in agroecosystems, aiming to minimize or eradicate pest populations.

## Contribution

It introduces two novel optimal control formulations for pest spraying, providing insights into effective biological control strategies.

## Key findings

- Optimal control solutions suggest effective spraying policies.
- Strategies can potentially eradicate pests.
- Results inform sustainable pest management practices.

## Abstract

We use optimal control theory with the purpose of finding the best spraying policy with the aim of at least to minimize and possibly to eradicate the number of parasites, i.e., the prey for the spiders living in an agroecosystems. Two different optimal control problems are posed and solved, and their implications discussed.