Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- PART I Strategies for using natural enemies
- PART II Biological control of invertebrate and vertebrate pests
- PART III Biological control of weeds
- Chapter 13 Biology and ecology of agents used for biological control of weeds
- Chapter 14 Phytophagous invertebrates and vertebrates
- Chapter 15 Plant pathogens for controlling weeds
- PART IV Biological control of plant pathogens and plant parasitic nematodes
- PART V Biological control: concerns, changes, and challenges
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Chapter 14 - Phytophagous invertebrates and vertebrates
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- PART I Strategies for using natural enemies
- PART II Biological control of invertebrate and vertebrate pests
- PART III Biological control of weeds
- Chapter 13 Biology and ecology of agents used for biological control of weeds
- Chapter 14 Phytophagous invertebrates and vertebrates
- Chapter 15 Plant pathogens for controlling weeds
- PART IV Biological control of plant pathogens and plant parasitic nematodes
- PART V Biological control: concerns, changes, and challenges
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Summary
Among projects for the biological control of weeds, the vast majority would be classified as classical biological control and the majority of programs have used phytophagous arthropods.
Invertebrates
In nature, there are many invertebrate species feeding on any plant species and for biological control purposes, decisions must be made as to which species to concentrate efforts on. The invertebrates released to control weeds are diverse, but insects have predominantly been used along with a few mites and nematodes (Table 14.1). In a few instances, snails, crayfish and tadpole shrimp have been tried against aquatic weeds. With such diversity in the invertebrates used, commonalities in their biologies are few. However, we can summarize by saying that different invertebrates can be found utilizing virtually all of the different parts of plants.
The majority of insects that are used for biological control bite off pieces of plants and chew them, as seen with weevils, leaf beetles, and caterpillars. Although the amount that each individual eats is quite small, populations of these species can increase to large numbers when weeds are abundant and control is then achieved by the synchrony of action of many individuals within the population. Many of the most successful natural enemies are holometabolous, having immature stages capable of limited dispersal but metamorphosing into more mobile adults that move to new locations to lay eggs. In fact, holometabolous species comprise 86% of the successful invertebrates released.
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- Information
- Natural EnemiesAn Introduction to Biological Control, pp. 233 - 250Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004