Identification of viable biological strategies for pest management by simulation studies

摘要

Interdisciplinary research by management scientists and entomologists at the University of Florida has developed a stochastic computer model for studying interactions between an insect population, its host food crop, and other variables. This population growth model, highly adaptable to any insect and any host crop, is technically characterized by discrete arrivals, infinite servers and multi-stage, continuous service-time distribution functions.

Because steady state is seldom achieved in nature, this paper identifies combinations of critical starting conditions (number of insects, disparate start times for insects and host crops) and critical stages for induced survival rate reductions to minimize crop damage. Sensitivity analyses serve to identify the most promising areas for future entomological research in pest management strategies.