Attempts and Successful Examples of Classical

Biological Control in Pakistan

By:
Name Roll.No
Muhammad Usman 37
Section: Evening(A)
7th Semester Entomology
An assignment submitted for partial requirement of the
course ENT-409 to Dr. Muhammad Razaq sb.

Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Technology

B.Z.U Multan

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Abstract

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

stories of importation and exportation of natural enemies.

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

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• Dispersal

These parameters are assessed by monitoring biological control agent numbers:

• over time – to assess establishment and population growth

• 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

started on various projects of special interest. Investigations mostly centered on occurrence,

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).

Classical Biological Control in Pakistan

Many attempts have been made on importation of natural enemies into Pakistan. Some of them

proved very successful.

Natural Enemies Imported to Pakistan

Telenomus remus Nixon:

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

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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

throughout the year and is well established.(Alam, Beg et al. 1972).

Diatraeophaga striatalis:

It was obtained from Jawa for the control of stem borres and realeased but was not established

(Alam, Beg et al. 1969).

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

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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

parasitoid this scale is not a serious pest (Mohyuddin 1981).

Natural Enemies Exported from Pakistan

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

of these natural enemies have provided outstanding successes (Irshad 2015).

Aphytis melinus (Aphelinidae:Hymenoptera):

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

treatments continued to be practiced (Debach 1959, Clausen 1978).

Aneristus ceroplastae (Aphelinidae: Hymenoptera):

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).

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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).

Tamarixia radiata(Eulophidae: Hymenoptera):

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.

Radiata (Hoddle 2012).

Table: Natural Enemies Exported from Pakistan:

Country Natural Enemy Pest Year Reference

Metaphycus lichtensiae Scale 1957-58 (Clausen 1978)

Bermuda

Canada Tetraphleps abdulghani Wooly aphid 1962-65 (Kelleher and

Hulme 1981)

France Aneristus ceroplastae Scale 1973 (Muzaffar and

Ahmad 1977)

Mexico Catana parcesetosa Citrus whitefly 1950 (Clausen 1978)

Eretmocerus serius Citrus whitefly 1950 (Clausen 1978)

Prospaltella clypealis Citrus whitefly 1950

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 Prospaltella polenta Citrus whitefly 1950 (Laing and Hamai

Prospaltella smithi Citrus whitefly 1950 1976)

(Laing and Hamai

1976)

(Clausen 1978)

New Zealand Cotesia ruficrus Aphids 1969 (Irshad 2015)

USA Anysis saissetiae Scales 1957 (Clausen 1978)

Aphytis maculicornis Citrus whitefly 1951 (Clausen 1978)

Aphytis melinus Scales 1956 (Clausen 1978)

Coccophagoides utilis Scales 1951-57 (Debach 1959,

Prospaltella lahorensis Citrus whitefly 1910-11 Laing and Hamai

Tamarixia radiate Diaphornia citri 2013 1976, Hoddle 2012)

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