Biological Control of Invasive Species, a Personal Perspective

As a biologist trained in an academic program that had little scientific appreciation for the traditional method of classical biological control, I find it very instructive that I now oversee one of the largest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) biological control facilities in the United States. Through years of experience working in pest-management systems of all types, I have become a believer, supporter, and advocate for biological control when practiced scientifically and systematically. Time and experience have made me aware of the highly powerful and beneficial tools available in the form of biological control introductions and establishments, especially to combat invasive pest species. It is my sense, however, that it takes either detailed scientific study to do this job correctly or a large dose of good luck. Although good luck may have carried us into the field of biological control more than 100 years ago (Coulson et al. 2001), I do not believe that we can depend on luck (good or bad) any longer. Because so many factors must come into proper alignment to allow safe and successful biological control to be realized, I strongly support the assembling of multidisciplinary teams to investigate the need for biological control programs for pests of agricultural and natural areas and to oversee their development and successful implementation. As pointed out by Hoddle (2004 [this issue]) such an approach has worked well for other countries such as Australia and New Zealand (McFadyan 1998), and a comprehensive effort is long overdue in the United States (Carruthers & Petroff 1997; Carruthers 2003). When safe and effective biological control programs are developed, they can be extremely impressive, being environmentally beneficial, economically viable, and