Only 1–2 % of released agents have caused some damage to non-target species, and few have been shown to become invasive in the sense of being introduced, established, and having negative impacts in the new ecosystem.
However, analyses of the effectiveness of pre-release screening of agents shows that biological control has been very effective, particularly for weed control programs. Recently, non-target impacts of some species of biological control agents have received considerable attention, which has impeded new classical biological control initiatives. Many classical biological control programs are deemed to be successful and contribute positively to ecosystem services by reducing the need for insecticides and herbicides as well increasing agricultural production, improving soil moisture conditions, and increasing native biodiversity. Whether introducing more non-native species in this way is a good approach depends on the positive and negative impacts of the potential control agents relative to the economic and environmental damage caused by the pests. Classical biological control, the introduction of natural enemies of invasive species to limit their populations, is a possible mechanism for alleviating the impacts of non-native pests. To a large degree, the most serious insect and weed pests around the world are non-native, invasive species.
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Biocontrol agents vs invasive species series#
Invading Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology
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