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
- PART IV Biological control of plant pathogens and plant parasitic nematodes
- PART V Biological control: concerns, changes, and challenges
- Chapter 18 Safe biological control
- Chapter 19 Present uses of biological control
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Chapter 18 - Safe biological control
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
- PART IV Biological control of plant pathogens and plant parasitic nematodes
- PART V Biological control: concerns, changes, and challenges
- Chapter 18 Safe biological control
- Chapter 19 Present uses of biological control
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Summary
… ladybirds supplied the first case of classical biological control and continue to be successfully used against pests. However, this can result in a conflict of interest between conservationists and biological control practitioners. There are theoretical grounds and some empirical evidence to indicate that introduced species of ladybirds might adversely affect the abundance of rare species of prey and native species of ladybirds. However, there is not good evidence of this having occurred and the most likely alternative to biological control, chemical control, is undoubtedly considerably more damaging to the environment.
(Dixon, 2000)Issues regarding the safety of biological control introductions are aimed at identifying and preventing unintended, deleterious effects. Biological control programs strive to impact pests, or so-called “target” species, using natural enemies. However, due to previous practices in biological control when concerns and priorities differed, some natural enemies were released that affected non-target organisms, in particular endemic invertebrates. Bringing to light these effects has created controversy among many, including both conservationists and practitioners of biological control. In fact, in this era of excessive reliance on chemical pesticides, practitioners of biological control have long worked under the impression that they were helping the environment in developing methods for a safer type of pest control. Now, they must alter some methods and justify already-conscientious practices so that biological control is viewed once again as being an environmentally safe type of pest control, as well as being effective.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Natural EnemiesAn Introduction to Biological Control, pp. 297 - 317Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004