September 1998, Volume 19 No. 3
- Editorial
- General News
- Biorational
- Training News
- Internet Round-Up
- Announcements
- New Books
- Conference Reports
- Fortcoming Meetings
Teaching Weed Biocontrol
This excellent book* was produced following many requests for copies of the lecture notes handed out to participants of the International Courses in the Biological Control of Tropical Weeds run by CTPM (the Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Pest Management, Queensland, Australia). The CTPM course was designed for scientists and managers involved in the regulation, management or implementation of the biological control of weeds but with limited experience in the area. The main aims of the courses are to give participants a balanced understanding of the theory of weed biological control and practical exposure to the procedures followed in a weed biological control programme.
The book is a modified and extended version of the lecture notes, and provides an overview of biological control of weeds and how to go about it. It includes useful reference lists for each topic. It begins by considering how to define and measure success and failure in biological control of weeds. A history of the biological control of weeds is given, followed by introductions to weed science and population ecology in the context of the biological control of weeds. The importance of taxonomy in biological control studies is also dealt with. The stages of a project, procedures, methods and techniques, are covered in detail, from the beginning of a project to evaluating its impact. Some sections describe methodology and others case studies. Topics covered include: exploration for biological control agents, and prioritzing those found; climate matching using the CLIMEX program; protocols and quarantine procedures for importation and release of agents; compiling a plant list for testing the host range of potential biological control agents; plant (including aquatic plant) propagation and culture for host range testing; methods for host range testing, and decision-making based on test results; mass rearing, distribution and establishment of insect agents; participatory approaches to biological control of weed programmes; measuring the impact of biological control agents on weeds, and cost-benefit analysis for biological control projects. There are sections dealing with plant pathogens as classical biological control agents, bioherbicides, and the mass production of fungi for biopesticides. A set of 38 slides providing a precis of weed biological control, reproduced in the book as colour prints, are also available.
Although this book deals principally with weeds and biological control in the Asia-Pacific region, it originated from training material and, as a well-organized and clearly written work, will have universal appeal in this context.
*Julien, M.; White, G. (eds) (1997) Biological control of weeds: theory and practical application. ACIAR Monograph Series No. 49. Canberra, Australia; ACIAR, 192 pp. Pbk. ISBN 1 86320 216 1.
Book and slides obtainable from: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, GPO Box 1571, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.
Insect Biocontrol in Southeast Asia
This book* summarizes current knowledge on natural enemies (principally the parasitoids) of 16 major exotic insect pests of Southeast Asia, and estimates the prospects for their biological control. The aim of the book is to facilitate, for the countries of the region, the selection of promising priority insect pest targets, and to provide donor agencies with a readily accessible overview of the region's major exotic pest problems and an evaluation, where possible, of prospects for their amelioration using biological control.
Of the 16 pests dealt with, 13 have had biological control programmes against them in one or more regions of the world, and substantial or partial success has been achieved, in one or more countries, for eight of these. Evidence is put forward to support the argument that there are good-to-excellent prospects for reducing damage, at least in some parts of Southeast Asia, from Leucinodes orbonalis, Nezara viridula, Ophiomyia phaseoli and Planococcus citri. Evidence is also provided to support the argument that there will prove to be valuable natural enemies for Agrius convolvuli, Anomis flava, Aphis craccivora, Aphis gossypii, Diaphorina citri, Dysmicoccus brevipes, Hypothenemus hampei, Phyllocnistis citrella and Trichoplusia ni. It is suggested that there is little prospect for the classical biological control of Dysdercus cingulatus, while too little is known about Deanolis sublimbalis. Propects for control of Cosmopolites sordidus are described as unclear, but its lack of pest status in Myanmar is noted.
*Waterhouse, D. F. (1998) Biological control of insect pests: Southeast Asian prospects. ACIAR Monograph Series No. 51. Canberra, Australia; ACIAR, 548 + vii pp. Hbk. ISBN 1 86320 221 8.
Obtainable from: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, GPO Box 1571, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.
Ethical Issues
This special journal issue* includes ten articles that explore the consequences of different strategies of biological control, their effectiveness and their ethical implications. In his opening article, Lockwood summarizes the issues dealt with, and outlines the major ethical questions raised. Issues of safety are dealt with first. R. G. Van Driesche & M. Hoddle consider how to conduct and interpret host range testing to safeguard non-target organisms. J. J. Duan & R. H. Messing explore the complexity of assessing environmental impact, using the biological control of fruit flies in Hawaii as a case study. R. R. James explores ethical issues in the context of transgenic insect-resistant trees. J. L. Ricard & T. J. Ricard present arguments for and against the view that fungal agents in fruit production present little risk to the environment. Next, B. H. Jennings describes political , economic and cultural obstacles to alternative pest management strategies. R. Wilkinson & G. Fitzgerald discuss the distribution of the decision-making powers in the context of the biological control of rabbits in New Zealand. J. W. Bentley & R. J. O'Neill explore issues relating to the non-industrial world, where maintaining agricultural food production is essential for the human population, and the argument is one of chemicals vs biologicals. P. M. Rosset discusses the effects of the Cuban agricultural and economic crisis [also see Biorational, this issue], and argues that the apparent ability of Cuba to overcome a food crisis without significant use of pesticides helps to refute the commonly used argument that pesticides are necessary to `feed the hungry'. Finally, M. A. Altieri, P. M. Rosset & C. I. Nicholls challenge the view of biological control as a technical substitute for agrochemicals, and also deal with the moral issue of biological control technology as a net transfer of resources from poor to rich nations with little/no payment.
*Lockwood, J. A. (guest ed) (1997) Ethical issues in Biological Control. Special Issue, Agriculture and Human Values, Journal of the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society 14(3), 203-310.
Biocontrol and IPM Dictionary
This new edition* of the dictionary gives more than 5300 descriptions and definitions for scientific and common names of beneficial and pest organisms, as well as the plants and animals they protect, infect or infest. It includes insects, mites, nematodes and micro-organisms. It covers plant and animal diseases, crops and weeds, biopesticides and other agrobiological compounds including pheromones and other lures.
*Coombs, J.; Hall, K. E. (1998) Dictionary of biological control and integrated pest management, 2nd edition. Newbury, UK; CPL Press, 196 pp. Pbk. ISBN 1 872691 76 5. Price: UK£40.00/US$80.00 + P&P.
Obtainable from: CPL Scientific Publishing Services Limited, 43 Kingfisher Court, Newbury RG14 5SJ, UK.
Microbial Control of Grasshoppers and Locusts
This publication* summarizes the current state of knowledge on microbial control of locusts and grasshoppers, presents research information, and identifies areas for future research. There are 24 chapters by 51 authors from 11 countries. Seventeen chapters are reviews and eight report research findings.
*Goettel, M. S.; Johnson, D. L. (eds) (1997) Microbial control of grasshoppers and locusts. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada Volume 171, 400 pp. Obtainable from: Entomological Society of Canada, 393 Winston Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, K2A 1Y8, Canada. Price: Can$45.00 (Canada) or US$45.00 (elsewhere). Cheques/money orders payable to: Entomological Society of Canada. Payments can be made by credit card. Fax: + 1 613 725 9349 Email:
http://www.nic.in/icar/ICARMAIN.HTM
A number of national organizations already have seasoned websites with a lot of useful information and services for biocontrol researchers and practitioners worldwide. One such is the EMBRAPA/Base de Dados Tropical site at
http://www.bdt.org.br/bdt/biocontrol/
This biological control information system has a number of databases, including an increasingly important one on `Who is who in risk analysis of the use of biocontrol agents' [see BNI 18(2)]. To add your name to this list or get further information, contact Email: . The site also has information on the current status of legislation relating to biocontrol in South America, and it also hosts the email biocontrol discussion list, Biocontrol-L. For readers not familiar with this list, you can subscribe to this list [send the message "Subscribe Biocontrol-l your name" to Email: ] or send messages to subscribers [Email: ].