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- Title
When a plant invader meets its old enemy abroad: what can be learnt from accidental introductions of biological control agents.
- Authors
Müller‐Schärer, Heinz; Sun, Yan; Schaffner, Urs
- Abstract
Accidental introductions of biological weed control (BWC) agents (i) offer opportunities to assess host use of agents with a potentially broader fundamental host‐range than those approved for field release directly in target areas; (ii) urge national authorities to rapidly respond as they may threaten native species or crops, and by this (iii) help advancing post‐release studies, a neglected aspect of BWC. Through detailed insights gained from studying the recent accidental introduction of the ragweed leaf beetle Ophraella communa into Europe, we derive suggestions for overcoming barriers to adoption of BWC by re‐evaluating the predictive power of pre‐release studies and, thus, the presently strict criteria for deciding upon their release that might exclude safe and efficient agents. By using the allergenic weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia and the accidentally introduced BWC agent O. communa as study system, we also hope to raise the awareness of authorities to consider biological control more prominently as a key approach for pest management in the 'One Health' concept, which aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
- Subjects
BIOLOGICAL pest control agents; INVASIVE plants; SOCIETY of Chemical Industry (Great Britain); BIOLOGICAL weed control; CONSCIOUSNESS raising; PEST control; WEEDS; GREENHOUSES
- Publication
Pest Management Science, 2024, Vol 80, Issue 1, p19
- ISSN
1526-498X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/ps.7390