Progress in risk assessment for classical biological control

PCR gut analysis reveals thatTenuiphantes tenuis(Araneae: Linyphiidae) is a potentially significant predator of Argentine stem weevil,Listronotus bonariensis(Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in New Zealand pastures

“…Typical L. bonariensis densities in Canterbury paddocks range from 100 to 400 adults m (2 at their peak in February (Goldson et al 1998), which is also when T. tenuis numbers peak (Vink et al 2004) and therefore it is feasible that T. tenuis could have a measurable effect on L. bonariensis populations. The magnitude of this population suppression is currently unknown, but simple models suggest that it will depend on the ability of the prey to compensate for offtake through its intrinsic rate of increase, modified by other density-dependent factors (Kean et al 2003;Barratt et al 2010).…”

An early suitability assessment of two exotic Ophraella species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for biological control of invasive ragweed in Europe

“…Its congener O. communa, in contrast, has already performed well as an inundative BC agent of ragweed in crop fi elds in Canada (Teshler et al, 2002) and more recently in an inoculative approach in China (Huang et al, 2011;Zhou et al, 2011a, b). spread and density-dependent interactions of the species involved and has rarely been done Barratt et al, 2010;Hahn et al, 2012). Researchers as well as authorities are likely to have to decide quickly about investing in ragweed BC agents in Europe.…”

“…This is partially due to currently common riskadverse "precautionary" approach towards the introduction of exotic species (Sheppard, 2003). The risk assessment in weed BC has historically mainly focussed on the direct risks for non-target plants (Müller-Schärer & Schaffner, 2008), inferred from protocolled experiments on host specifi city (Briese, 2004;Sheppard et al, 2005;Barratt et al, 2010). Nowadays, rigorous host-specifi city testing on tens of non-target species is often demanded, which alone can take up to ten years.…”

Torymus sinensis: a viable management option for the biological control of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Europe?

“…Perkins (1897) was the first to describe non-target invertebrate community changes following the release of coccinellid beetle biocontrol agents in Hawaii. Despite numerous early warnings, however, the non-target impacts of biological control agents were generally not seriously considered until the beginning of the 1990s (reviewed in Barratt et al 2010). After the 1992 Rio Convention on Biodiversity, international organizations and national governments published general guidelines for the import and release of invertebrate biological control agents (e.g.…”