Augmentative biological control relies on the inundative release of natural enemies pests that are usually mass-reared in laboratory. This practice substantially reduces environmental impact pest agriculture by reducing use insecticides. However, there many reasons to expect more or less deleterious effects biodiversity: if enemy is not specific pest, large populations predators can directly af...

Large-scale exploitation of wild animals and plants through fishing, hunting and logging often depends on augmentation through releases of translocated or captively raised individuals. Such releases are performed worldwide in vast numbers. Augmentation can be demographically and economically beneficial but can also cause four types of adverse genetic change to wild populations: (1) loss of gene...

The effective dispersal ability of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae Pang and Chen was assessed in potato fields on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in spring 2005 and 2006. Approximately 0.5 million T. ostriniae were released from a central release point in separate potato fields. Dispersal was monitored using yellow sticky card traps and European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, eg...

Successful integrated pest management (IPM) control programmes depend on many factors which include host-parasitoid ratios, starting densities, timings of parasitoid releases, dosages and timings of insecticide applications and levels of host-feeding and parasitism. Mathematical models can help us to clarify and predict the effects of such factors on the stability of host-parasitoid systems, wh...

The effectiveness of inundative releases of the parasitoid Encarsia formosa for control of Bemisia argentifolii on poinsettia was determined in replicated experimental greenhouses. We evaluated two release rates of E. formosa: a low release rate (1 wasp/plant/week, released in two greenhouses, in spring 1995) and a high release rate (3 wasps/plant/week, released in two greenhouses, in fall 1993...

The effectiveness of inundative releases of the parasitoid Eretmocerus eremicus n. sp. Rose & Zolnerowich for control of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring on poinsettia in replicated experimental greenhouses was determined. We evaluated two release rates of E. eremicus: a low release rate (one female per plant per week, released in two greenhouses, in spring 1995) and a high release rate (...

Large-scale hatchery releases are carried out for many marine fish species worldwide; nevertheless, the long-term effects of this practice on the genetic structure of natural populations remains unclear. The lack of knowledge is especially evident when independent stock enhancement programs are conducted simultaneously on the same species at different geographical locations, as occurs with red ...

The egg parasitoid, Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), is used extensively around the world as a biological control agent for the control of lepidopterous pests. Wasps are either released to augment an existing population “inoculative release,” or they are released in large numbers to coincide with maximum pest pressure “inundative release.” Field releases however, have had variable...