One agent is usually sufficient for successful biological control of weeds

摘要

A review of the recent literature reveals ten new cases of successful biological control of weeds. In each of these a single species of biological control agent has apparently caused the decline in the density and biomass of the target weed. Each of these agents also dramatically damages the plants and reduces their survival. While it remains difficult to predict which species of insect herbivore or plant pathogen will be successful, history suggests that those that cause serious damage to the plantsare most likely to reduce target weed biomass and density. Clearly single agents can be successful.