National Conference on ‘Environmental Degradation and its Impact on Mankind’

Organized by Dep’t of Zoology & Environmental Society, Punjabi University, Patiala (Punjab), India
On Nov. 19-20, 2010

O-15
Strategies, Efficacy and Environmental Implications of Biocontrol of Insect Pest
Species - A Revisit

Dr A P Singh
Associate Professor in Zoology, SGGS College, Sector-26, Chandigarh – 160 019

ABSTRACT
In view of recent insurgence and resurgence of several insect pests of various agricultural crops (Hardin
et. al., 1999), the strategies of their control/suppression, particularly biocontrol (BC), need revisit, so as to
assess them in light of predictive (Godfray & Waage, 1991), analytical (May & Hassell, 1988) and
simulative (Gutirrez et.al., 1988) models and to expand/modify them for efficacy. On account of several
advantages (over chemical control) like target specificity, ecological safety, economic viability, durability
and absence of secondary problems, biocontrol is a first line of control strategy. The idea of biocontrol of
insect pest species is not new. It emerged in medieval times in China and Arab, when predacious ants
were employed without deep scientific understanding. Since then, several biocontrol strategies involving
various biocontrol agents have evolved on scientific lines (Doutt, 1964; DeBach, 1974). Three modes of
biocontrol are recognized – use of natural enemies, use of insect secretions and use of GM crops with
genes of insect resistance. Presently, only natural enemies are discussed. Natural enemies can be endemic/
exotic predators, parasites, parasitoids and pathogens. Biocontrol involving natural enemies is of three
types – conservation of endemic natural enemies, augmentation of existing natural enemies (by
inoculative or inundative release) & classical biocontrol (involving introductions). A natural enemy must
have certain features to be an effective biocontrol agent – high searchability, specificity, reproductive
potential and permanent occurrence. Predators and parasitoids give more effective results. However, the
latter are more susceptible to chemical insecticides, and are also attacked by other parasitoids which are
little manageable. Generally more than one natural enemy species are employed in the distributional range
of insect pest species for its effective control (multivalent method has also been questioned, Briggs,
1993). Biocontrol has been reasonably successful. However, it has several limitations – chances of failure
for incomplete study, turning of control agent into invasive/ alien species and high initial cost. Though
considered ecologically safe, but recently classical biocontrol has been highlighted to be fraught with
environmental implications. In 1983, Frank Howarth questioned biocontrol to be ‘Panacea or Pandora
Box’, as it had significantly contributed to extinction of endemic species. In the same year, Van Lantern,
labeled it as a passing fashion and doubted its viability. Later in 1992, Convention on Biological Diversity
(Earth Summit), also recognized risks posed by alien species and requested concerned parties to devise
means to protect ecosystems/habitats and endemic species.Driesch et. al., (2001) highlighted the absence
of standard methods and procedures to regulate & assess the various risks of natural enemies. More
recently, Bigler et. al., (2006) assessed environment impacts of use of Invertebrate agents to control
arthropods; and stressed on cost-benefit studies, risk assessments & fool proof molecular identification
techniques. In India, Project Directorate of Biocontrol (PDBC) is a nodal agency coordinating
organization of biocontrol of pests of agricultural importance.

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