Christchurch, New Zealand OECD CO-OPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMME : BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINAIBLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Insect host range affects risk assessment for biological control agents of weeds and invasive insects, including the cost benefit analyses that are used for determining government responses to new incursions, and for justifying biological control introductions against weeds. This project had three objectives, starting with an examination of scientific contradictions between predictions and field experience with insect host range, a consideration of dilemmas involving prediction of insect host range, and an examination of machine vision for experimentally studying insect behaviour and host choice. These objectives were met and several publications were produced. The study confirmed that insect host range is predictable from laboratorybased predictions following appropriate protocols, based on field experience with 512 agents released against weeds worldwide.