La commission internationale de lutte biologique, son organisation, son fonctionnement, son rôle dans le développement de la taxonomie des insectes

Summary

While the problems of biological control have been studied in the Anglosaxon countries for almost a century, continental Europe has stayed behind in this scientific field.

To improve this situation, the ≪Commission Internationale de Lutte Biologique (C.I.L.B.)≫ has been founded under the auspices of the International Union of Biological Sciences (I.U.B.S.) in 1950.

Many difficulties had to be overcome at the beginning, but after the first general assembly, held in Paris in 1958, the activities of the commission have taken a very satisfactory course. At present, official institutions of 14 countries collaborate with the C.I.L.B., which is an organ of coordination and communication that joins the efforts of the national services with regard to better results in the biological control of insect pests. The C.I.L.B. is directed by an executive bureau, and its projects are carried out by working-teams. Its official organ is the revueEntomophaga.

In the field of taxonomy, the activities of the C.I.L.B. have led to the foundation of anEntomophage Identification Center, with its seat at the Museum of Geneva. At present, the Center depends of aTaxonomic working-team whose task it is to stimulate the systematic research of entomophages in the countries which are members of the C.I.L.B. This team facilitates both the contact between the specialists and their transfer to other places for special studies. On the other hand, it coordinates the systematic investigations necessary for the studies of other working groups.