Augmentation of Natural Enemies in the People’s Republic of China

Abstract

Biological control has received effective emphasis in China. Since the Cultural Revolution government policy has decreed that scientists channel their research toward practical assistance of the communes. But importation of natural enemies from foreign lands has received almost no attention. Biological control has been used widely, although in limited ways. It has not been taken as the central feature of their integrated control approach. Cultural control occupies this role. Undoubtedly, greater use than was apparent to us is being made of indigenous natural enemies because much attention is given to selective pesticide technology to protect them. The development of pest resistant crops as a central or high priority component has had little active or organized support, although varieties of some crop species resistant to a variety of pests were reported (NAS, 1977).

Member, U.S. Insect Control Delegation of the Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People’s Republic of China, sponsored jointly by the American Council of Learned Societies, the National Academy of Sciences and the Social Sciences Research Council (August 4–29, 1975).