KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE

projects RESEARCH

The rapid increase in trade and travel between countries has resulted in a leap in the number of plants and insects arriving in new environments. The majority come without the natural enemies that keep them in check in their native range. This can lead to these non-native organisms having an unfair advantage over their new neighbours.

invasive species and biological controlClassical biological control tries to re-establish a balance in the ecology by re-introducing specialist natural enemies that help control these invasive organisms in their native range. In the case of invasive plants, these can be specialist insects, mites, fungal pathogens or nematodes. For insect pests, they are primarily parasitoids, predators and entomopathogens. Our centres in both Switzerland and the UK investigate natural enemies to control several invasive insects and weeds for North America.

biocontrol in North America

contactCABI, Nosworthy Way, Wallingford, OX9 8DE, UK T: +44 (0)1491 832111 E: enquiries@cabi.org www.cabi.org

our expertiseOur centre in Switzerland has worked on the classical biological control of invasive species since it opened in 1948 and our UK centre began this type of work in 1927. We have experience in both field and laboratory studies, assessing the host-specificity and impact of potential biological control agents. This ensures that any agent we recommend for field release is thoroughly tested, and any risks to non-target species are minimized.

Insects identified and studied by our Swiss and UK centres are currently contributing to the successful control of several North American pests and weeds and we are currently working on the following:

Insect Pests:

Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys

Cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus

Leek moth, Acrolepiopsis assectella

Plant bugs, Lygus spp.

Red clover casebearer, Coleophora deauratella

Swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii

Weeds:

Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense

Common reed, Phragmites australis

Common tansy, Tanacetum vulgare

Dyer’s woad, Isatis tinctoria

Field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis

Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata

Hawkweeds, Pilosella spp.

Himalayan balsam, Impatiens glandulifera

Hoary cress, Lepidium draba

Houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinale

Hygrophila, Hygrophila polysperma

Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica

Oxeye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare

Perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium

Russian knapweed, Acroptilon repens

Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia

Swallow-worts, Vincetoxicum spp.

Toadflaxes, Linaria spp.

Wild ginger, Hedychium spp., in Hawaii

Yellow Himalayan raspberry, Rubus ellipticus, in Hawaii

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Key sponsors and partners:Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta

Alberta Invasive Plant Council

British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Montana Weed Trust Fund through Montana State University

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Plant Protection and Quarantine – Center for Plant Health Science and Technology)

USDA- FS (US Department of Agriculture – Forest Service)

USDI-BIA (US Department of the Interior – Bureau of Indian Affairs)

USDI-BLM (US Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through Cornell University

Wyoming Biological Control Steering Committee