The role of taxonomy in effective biological control programs

Weevils as Targets for Biological Control, and the Importance of Taxonomy and Phylogeny for Efficacy and Biosafety

“…It is well accepted that host phylogeny is an important determining factor in most parasitoid/host relationships and hence its importance in risk assessment (e.g., [8]). The close dependence of successful biological control on taxonomy has also been emphasized by many practitioners (e.g., [22]), and the careful alignment of these disciplines is vital for a desirable outcome. These examples demonstrate the challenges of working with target species from such a large, complex and phylogenetically poorly resolved family as the Curculionidae.…”

“…The importance of accurate taxonomy both for the pest and biological control agent has long been recognised [77,78], and there are well known examples of biological control failure resulting from poor differentiation between species. For example, initial attempts to control California Red Scale (Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell)) failed not only because the pest species was not accurately identified, but confusion between species of the natural enemy Aphytis Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) delayed the selection of effective species for biological control [22]. Nowadays, molecular techniques have become commonplace tools for resolving problems of differentiation between morphologically cryptic or indistinct species [79].…”

“…For risk assessment for biological control it is vital to have a good understanding of the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the organisms involved (biocontrol agent, target host, potential non-target hosts) for many reasons [22]. Clearly, certainty of the identity of the BCA is paramount, so that the correct and intended organism is selected for release and reliable literature can be accessed on efficacy, host range, climatic and geographical distribution, as well as basic biology and ecology [23].…”

Cross mating studies among five fruit fly parasitoid populations: potential biological control implications for tephritid pests

“…These experiments serve as a frequent source of data for taxonomic decisions at the species level (Rosen 1986;Pinto and Stouthamer 1994), and for making important biological control decisions (Pinto et al 1986;Stouthamer et al 2000). In tephritids, it has also been used to test the compatibility of different populations in a species complex to warrant the use of the right compatible population in sterile insect technique (SIT) programmes (Vera et al 2006).…”

An identification key to species in the mali complex of Aphelinus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) with descriptions of three new species

“…Recent evidence from molecular studies suggests that cryptic species of hymenopteran parasitoids may be far more common than previously realized (Campbell et al 1993;Clarke and Walter 1995;Darling and Werren 1990;Kankare et al 2005a;Kankare et al 2005b;Kazmer et al 1996;Molbo et al 2003;Rincon et al 2006;Stouthamer et al 2000;Stouthamer et al 1999). The success of biological control programs depends on accurate species-level identifications of hosts and natural enemies, but choosing the best parasitoids for biological control programs is complicated by cryptic species (Rosen 1986;Wharton et al 1990). Because cryptic species are difficult to recognize, studies on host ranges of parasitoids have often confounded more than one parasitoid species (Clarke and Walter 1995;Hopper et al 1993), making analysis and prediction of host range difficult.…”