Introduction of New Natural Enemies: Principles

Abstract

The intentional introduction of new natural enemies species to suppress populations of adventive pests has long been an important part of biological control. The process has also been applied to native species which are pests. The objective of the tactic is to introduce safe, effective natural enemies to suppress pest populations, and it has been applied in a wide variety of natural, agricultural, and urban settings. Introduced natural enemies have included invertebrates, vertebrates, and microbes, and these have been employed against pest plants, arthropods, and vertebrates. The potential for control of many pest organisms in diverse environments using introduced natural enemies is substantial. The approach has been applied to only a very small percentage of the world’s pest species, and broader application of the approach would certainly be beneficial.