Most direct non-target impacts on plants (91.6%) were categorized as minimal or minor in magnitude with no known adverse long-term impact on non-target plant populations, but a few cacti and thistles are affected at moderate (nвЂЉ=вЂЉ3), major (nвЂЉ=вЂЉ7) to massive (nвЂЉ=вЂЉ1) scale. The vast majority of agents introduced for classical biological control of weeds (>99% of 512 agents released) have had no known significant adverse effects on non-target plants thus far major effects suppressing non-target plant populations could be expected to be detectable. The magnitude of direct impact of 43 biocontrol agents on 140 non-target plants was retrospectively categorized using a risk management framework for ecological impacts of invasive species (minimal, minor, moderate, major, massive). This adaptive management approach will guard against repeat failures and improve the effectiveness and safety of future programs.A systematic review focused by plant on non-target impacts from agents deliberately introduced for the biological control of weeds found significant non-target impacts to be rare.

By dividing complex ecological processes into manageable, measurable stages, it is possible to identify failures in a biological control system. Ecological theory can assist biological control practitioners to better predict and monitor the target invasive species and the potential effectiveness and possible risks of the biological control agents. Where this is the case, an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) approach should be used to control the weed species of concern, with biological control as a component of the strategy (where applicable), but not the sole solution.Д«iological control and the general principles of ecology mesh well together by reuniting a target pest with its natural enemy. Most biological control systems fall somewhere between the two extremes outlined above. The effectiveness of biological control can range from highly effective, where people may use this approach and exclude other weed control measures, to failure. Biological control agents are ideally employed for use against established weeds rather than new invaders. Conservation вЂ“ changing environmental conditions to aid in natural enemy survival.ДЇor over 100 years, biological control principles have been used throughout the world as an effective, economical, and environmentally responsible way to decrease the damage caused by invasive species.Augmentative вЂ“ large numbers of natural enemies are released to control a target pest for a short amount of time.Classical вЂ“ initially small numbers of natural enemies are released in target pest areas for long-term control.There are commonly three types of biological control recognized: insects, pathogens, nematodes, mites) of pests to reduce plant pest population levels below that which would occur in the absence of the natural enemies. For our purposes, we will define the biological control of weeds as the use of live natural enemies (e.g. There are many definitions attributed to biological control. This program provides state-wide technical advice, guidance, and training on integrated weed management (IWM), specifically targeting biological control of noxious weeds. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Land Management have joined together in the fight against noxious weeds.

Biocontrol agents for invasive plants