hopefully result in a light and harmonized
registration procedure that is not prohibi-
tive for the biocontrol industry and will
result in the preselection of safe natural ene-
mies. The registration procedure also
includes the specification of efficacy of the
natural enemy. This efficacy will largely
depend on good mass-production and qual-
ity control methods. The purpose of this
registration procedure would be to keep
biocontrol a respected, reliable and sustain-
able control method and to prevent the
import and release of really unsafe natural
enemies.
Acknowledgements
This study has been carried out with finan-
cial support from the Commission of the
European Communities, Agriculture and
Fisheries (FAIR) specific RTD programme
CT97-3489, ‘Evaluating Environmental Risks
of Biological Control Introductions into
Europe’. It does not reflect its views and in
no way anticipates the Commission’s future
policy in this area. F. Bin, E. Conti, R. Romani
and J. Salerno (University of Perugia, Italy)
are thanked for contributing to the formula-
tion of the ideas on risk assessment.202 J.C. van Lenteren et al.
References
Aeschlimann, J.P. (1995) Lessons from post-release investigations in classical biological control: the case of
Microctonus aethiopoidesLoan (Hym., Braconidae) introduced into Australia and New Zealand for the
biological control of Sitona discoideusGyllenhal (Col., Curculionidae). In: Hokkanen, H.M.T. and Lynch,
J.M. (eds) Biological Control: Benefits and Risks. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 75–83.
Barratt, B.I.P., Evans, A.A., Ferguson C.M., Barker, G.M., McNeill, M.R. and Phillips, C.B. (1997)
Laboratory nontarget host range of the introduced parasitoids Microctonus aethiopoidesand
Microctonus hyperodae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) compared with field parasitism in New Zealand.
Environmental Entomology26, 694–702.
Barratt, B.I.P., Ferguson, C.M., McNeil, M.R. and Goldson, S.L. (1999) Parasitoid host specificity testing to
predict field host range. In: Whithers, T.M., Barton Browne, L. and Stanley, J.N. (eds) Host Specificity
Testing in Australia: Towards Improved Assays for Biological Control. CRC for Tropical Pest
Management, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 70–83.
Blossey, B. (1995) Host specificity screening of insect biological control agents as part of an environmental
risk assessment. In: Hokkanen, H.M.T. and Lynch, J.M. (eds) Biological Control: Benefits and Risks.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 84–89.
Brodeur, J. and Rosenheim, J.A. (2001) Intraguild interactions in aphid parasitoids. Entomologia
Experimentalis et Applicata97, 93–108.
Brower, J.H. (1991) Potential host range and performance of a reportedly monophagous parasitoid,
Pteromalus cerealellae(Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Entomological News102, 231–235.
Cameron, P.J. and Walker, G.P. (1997) Host specificity of Cotesia rubeculaand Cotesia plutellae, parasitoids
of white butterfly and diamondback moth. In: Proceedings of the 50th New Zealand Plant Protection
Conference, Lincoln University, Canterbury, pp. 236–241.
Crawley, M.J. (ed.) (1992) Natural Enemies: the Population Biology of Predators, Parasites and Diseases.
Blackwell, Oxford.
Cross, A.E. and Noyes, J.S. (1995) Dossier on Anagyrus kamaliMoursi, biological control agent for the
pink mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, in Trinidad and Tobago. International Institute of Biological
Control, Silwood, Ascot, 16 pp. + 1 Annex.
Cullen, J.M. (1997) Biological control and impacts on non-target species. In: Proceedings of the 50th New
Zealand Plant Protection Conference, Lincoln University, Canterbury, pp. 195–201.
EPPO (1998) Guideline for the Safety and Efficacy of Biological Control: First Introduction of Exotic Biological
Control Agents for Research Under Contained Conditions. EPPO, Rome, 4 pp.
FAO (1996) Code of Conduct on the Import and Release of Biological Control Agents.FAO, Rome, 21 pp.
FAO (1999) Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms. International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
Publication No. 5, Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 62 pp.
Follett, P.A., Duan, J., Messing, R.H. and Jones, V.P. (2000) Parasitoid drift after biological control intro-
ductions: re-examining Pandora’s box. American Entomologist 46, 82–94.