Pathways for accidental biocontrol: The human-mediated dispersal of insect predators and parasitoids.

ABSTRACT: Introductions of insect predators and parasitoids for biological control are a key method for pest management. Yet in recent decades, biological control has become more strictly regulated and less frequent. Conversely, the rate of unintentional insect introductions through human activities is rising. While accidental introductions of insect natural enemies can potentially have serious ecological consequences, they are challenging to quantify as their movements go largely unobserved. We used historical border interception records collected by the US Department of Agriculture from 1913 to 2018 to describe the diversity of entomophagous insects transported unintentionally, their main introduction pathways, and trends in host specificity. There were 35,312 interceptions of insect predators and

SUBMITTER: Fenn-Moltu G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11610710 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature