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Attempts & Successful Examples PDF
Attempts & Successful Examples PDF
An account is given on import and export of natural enemies into or from Pakistan and is
known as classical biological control. This control measure is to lower the population of
exotic pests and establishment of natural enemies permanently. In Pakistan there are many
Introduction
Classical biological control refers to the intentional introduction of an exotic biological control
agent for permanent establishment and long-term pest control to an area that the pest has
evolved (Vanninen 2005). The aim is to restore the balance between pest and natural enemy
populations that was lost when the pest moved to the new geographical area without its enemies
(Eilenberg, Hajek et al. 2001). The majority of the introduced agents have been arthropod
parasitoids and predators, including herbivores for weed control(Van Driesche and Hoddle
2009). The relative success rate of this strategy has been highest for the orders Homoptera and
Lepidoptera (Greathead 1995) and rangeland and farmland weeds (Markin and Gardner 1993).
Successful classical biological control projects enable reductions in the use of insecticides,
which has substantial benefits for human health and the environment. Classical biological
control programmes are increasingly being developed to protect biodiversity and natural
ecosystems where the use of pesticides is not an option. Success of classical biological control
can be estimated by checking the effectiveness of biological control agents which can be
detected in the early stages of introduction indicating the ongoing success. Key assessment
parameters are:
• Establishment
• Population growth
• Dispersal
• within and beyond the introduced area – to assess dispersal (S. 2019 Rome, FAO).
In Pakistan, comparatively a fewer efforts have been made on biological control especially on
importing natural enemies from different areas of world. However this situation is not as bad
as it looks because a lot of information on different aspects of important important pests and
their natural enemies is available. The information on natural enemies was scattered until a
catalogue, which shows the occurrence, hosts and distribution of biotic agents was published
(Irshad 2003, Irshad and Khan 2005). In Pakistan, work on biological control started in 1956
when the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (CIBC) was established. The work
incidence, distribution, and population fluctuations of different natural enemies (Irshad 2015).
Many attempts have been made for importing into and exporting from Pakistan to other areas
of the world and their success stories are also present (Irshad 2008).
Many attempts have been made on importation of natural enemies into Pakistan. Some of them
Noctuids are common pests of vegetables throughout the world. CIBC, 1985 reported that a
naturt enemy Telenomus remus Nixon was imported from West Indies to Pakistan for their
biological control. High rates of parasitism of eggs of Spodoptera litura were recorded. It was
found 30 km away from area where it was released in 1980-81 (Irshad 2008).
Euplactrus platyhypanae:
Another parasitoid Euplactrus platyhypanae for noctuids was imported from Barbados and
released at Hydearabad, Lahore, Multan and Peshawar. It was recovered and parasitism was
recovered up to 60%. It was also released at Rawalpindi and kala Shah kaku in sugercan and
rice fields but results are not reported. (Mohyuddin 1981, Mohyuddin 1986)
Cotesia flavipes:
A larval parasitoid introduced from Indonesia, Thiland, and Barbados and control of stem
borers achieved.
In 1962 C.falvipes introduced from Japan and it established on maize and sorghum stem borrers
(Irshad 2008). In 1982-1985 its sugarcane adapted strains were released in NWFP and Punjab
which are now well established. In 1988, a hybrid between the Indonesian strain having
preference for the sugarcane and the local strain established on the maize borer was produced
in the laboratory and released. Since then it has been recovered from sugarcane stem borrers
Diatraeophaga striatalis:
It was obtained from Jawa for the control of stem borres and realeased but was not established
Prospaltella perniciosi:
Quadraspadispidiotus is a serious pest of fruit trees like apple, pear, peach, and plum in hilly
areas of Pakistan. It also damage ornamentals and bushy plants and woody trees. To control
this pest some natural enemies were imported (Irshad 2008). One of them is
Quadraspidispidiotus perniciosus. It was imported from USA, reared in laboratory and 15000
were released in Murree hills, Kashmir, Parachinar and Baltistan repeatedly. All stages of the
pest were present in fields. But later it was recovered and the parasitoid has reported to
established (Rehman, Ghani et al. 1961, Alam, Beg et al. 1969). Since the release of the
A considerable number of natural enemies has been sent outside Pakistan. This list has been
compiled by Irshad (Irshad 2008). The list has been now modified and given in Table. These
natural enemies have been utilized in the countries which have received these shipments. Some
A.melinus, which was imported from Pakistan into the USA, is an outstanding success. A.
melinus has become the generally dominant parasitoid in California, especially in interior and
intermediate areas where biological control was the poorest. By 1962, a general decline was
evident and the pest reached to its lowest level in many years, even though many insecticide
Aneristus ceroplastae was introduced from Pakistan into France in 1973, where it is
established (Muzaffar and Ahmad 1977) It was introduced from India and Pakistan into Turkey,
Italy, Greece, and the USA, giving substantial control of Aonidiella aurantii. During the first
year of release in 1958, the species was recovered from 31% of the released plots in the coastal
area and 65% in other areas. Its effective rate of dispersal after colonization is far greater (Irshad
2015).
Coccophagoides utilis (Aphelinidae: Hymenoptera):
Two species of parasitoids emerged from this single shipment and both were successfully
cultured. Only one, however, C.utilis became established. By early 1961, it showed great
promise of improving the degree of biological control of olive scale, Parlatorai oleae
(Clausen 1978).
Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphornia citri Kuwayama, has established populations in southern
California USA in 2008. Foreign exploration efforts were focused in the Punjab of Pakistan.
By June 2012, almost 5,000 T.radiata had been released in Southern California and initial field
surveys tentatively suggest establishment is likely about 20% of release sites. The classical
biological control program is now entering a more aggressive mass production phase for T.
Bermuda
Hulme 1981)
Ahmad 1977)
1976)
(Clausen 1978)
References:
1. Kenis, M.; Hurley, B.P.; Colombari, F.; Lawson, S.; Sun, J.; Wilcken, C.; Weeks, R.
And Sathyapala, S. 2019. Guide to the classical biological control of insect pests in
planted and natural forests, FAO Forestry Paper No. 182. Rome, FAO.
2. Alam, M., et al. (1972). "Introduction of Apanteles spp. against graminaceous borers
Control(15): 1-10.
3. Alam, M., et al. (1969). "Survey of parasites of insect pests of cultivated and useful
plants and survey of insects destroying weeds and their parasites." Final Report,
4. Clausen, C. (1978). "Introduced parasites and predators of arthropod pests and weeds:
259-276480.
parasitic on the California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Mask.), in the Orient." Annals
6. Eilenberg, J., et al. (2001). "Suggestions for unifying the terminology in biological
7. Greathead, D. (1995). "Benefits and risks of classical biological control." Plant and
8. Hoddle, M. S. (2012). "Foreign exploration for natural enemies of Asian citrus psyllid,
Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), in the Punjab of Pakistan for use in a classical
Insect pests of Pakistan." Tech. Publ. National IPM Programme. NARC, Islamabad,
Pakistan.
12. Irshad, M. and M. Khan (2005). "Insect pests of plants and their parasitoids, predators
13. Kelleher, J. and M. Hulme (1981). Biological control programmes against insects and
14. Laing, J. and J. Hamai (1976). "Biological control of insect pests and weeds by
imported parasites, predators, and pathogens." Biological control of insect pests and
predators and pathogens of cutworms affecting fruits, vegetables, field crops and
grasses."
18. Muzaffar, N. and R. Ahmad (1977). "A note onSaissetia privigna [Hem.: Coccidae] in
Pakistan and the breeding of its natural enemies." Entomophaga 22(1): 45-46.
19. Rehman, M., et al. (1961). "Introduction of exotic natural enemies of San José scale
into Pakistan." Introduction of exotic natural enemies of San José scale into
Pakistan.(1): 165-177.
20. Van Driesche, R. and M. Hoddle (2009). Control of pests and weeds by natural