TY  - JOUR
AU  - Marini, Francesca
AU  - Weyl, Philip
AU  - Vidović, Biljana
AU  - Petanović, Radmila
AU  - Littlefield, Jeffrey
AU  - Simoni, Sauro
AU  - de Lillo, Enric
AU  - Cristofaro, Massimo
AU  - Smith, Lincoln
PY  - 2021
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5876
AB  - A classical biological control agent is an exotic host-specific natural enemy, which is intentionally introduced to obtain long-term control of an alien invasive species. Among the arthropods considered for this role, eriophyid mites are likely to possess the main attributes required: Host specificity, efficacy, and long-lasting effects. However, so far, only a few species have been approved for release. Due to their microscopic size and the general lack of knowledge regarding their biology and behavior, working with eriophyids is particularly challenging. Furthermore, mites disperse in wind, and little is known about biotic and abiotic constraints to their population growth. All these aspects pose challenges that, if not properly dealt with, can make it particularly difficult to evaluate eriophyids as prospective biological control agents and jeopardize the general success of control programs. We identified some of the critical aspects of working with eriophyids in classical biological control of weeds and focused on how they have been or may be addressed. In particular, we analyzed the importance of accurate mite identification, the difficulties faced in the evaluation of their host specificity, risk assessment of nontarget species, their impact on the weed, and the final steps of mite release and post-release monitoring.
PB  - MDPI AG
T2  - Insects
T1  - Eriophyid Mites in Classical Biological Control of Weeds: Progress and Challenges
IS  - 6
SP  - 513
VL  - 12
DO  - 10.3390/insects12060513
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Marini, Francesca and Weyl, Philip and Vidović, Biljana and Petanović, Radmila and Littlefield, Jeffrey and Simoni, Sauro and de Lillo, Enric and Cristofaro, Massimo and Smith, Lincoln",
year = "2021",
abstract = "A classical biological control agent is an exotic host-specific natural enemy, which is intentionally introduced to obtain long-term control of an alien invasive species. Among the arthropods considered for this role, eriophyid mites are likely to possess the main attributes required: Host specificity, efficacy, and long-lasting effects. However, so far, only a few species have been approved for release. Due to their microscopic size and the general lack of knowledge regarding their biology and behavior, working with eriophyids is particularly challenging. Furthermore, mites disperse in wind, and little is known about biotic and abiotic constraints to their population growth. All these aspects pose challenges that, if not properly dealt with, can make it particularly difficult to evaluate eriophyids as prospective biological control agents and jeopardize the general success of control programs. We identified some of the critical aspects of working with eriophyids in classical biological control of weeds and focused on how they have been or may be addressed. In particular, we analyzed the importance of accurate mite identification, the difficulties faced in the evaluation of their host specificity, risk assessment of nontarget species, their impact on the weed, and the final steps of mite release and post-release monitoring.",
publisher = "MDPI AG",
journal = "Insects",
title = "Eriophyid Mites in Classical Biological Control of Weeds: Progress and Challenges",
number = "6",
pages = "513",
volume = "12",
doi = "10.3390/insects12060513"
}

Marini, F., Weyl, P., Vidović, B., Petanović, R., Littlefield, J., Simoni, S., de Lillo, E., Cristofaro, M.,& Smith, L.. (2021). Eriophyid Mites in Classical Biological Control of Weeds: Progress and Challenges. in Insects
MDPI AG., 12(6), 513.
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060513

Marini F, Weyl P, Vidović B, Petanović R, Littlefield J, Simoni S, de Lillo E, Cristofaro M, Smith L. Eriophyid Mites in Classical Biological Control of Weeds: Progress and Challenges. in Insects. 2021;12(6):513.
doi:10.3390/insects12060513 .

Marini, Francesca, Weyl, Philip, Vidović, Biljana, Petanović, Radmila, Littlefield, Jeffrey, Simoni, Sauro, de Lillo, Enric, Cristofaro, Massimo, Smith, Lincoln, "Eriophyid Mites in Classical Biological Control of Weeds: Progress and Challenges" in Insects, 12, no. 6 (2021):513,
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060513 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Smith, Lincoln
AU  - Cristofaro, Massimo
AU  - Bon, Marie-Claude
AU  - De Biase, Alessio
AU  - Petanović, Radmila
AU  - Vidović, Biljana
PY  - 2018
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4789
AB  - Classical biological control of weeds depends on finding agents that are highly host-specific. This requires not only correctly understanding the identity of the target plant, sometimes to subspecific levels, in order to find suitable agents, but also identifying agents that are sufficiently specific to be safe and effective. Behavioral experiments and molecular genetic tools have revealed that some arthropod species previously thought to be polyphagous really consist of multiple cryptic species, host races or biotypes, some of which are more host-specific than others. Whereas true species are reproductively isolated, individuals from subspecific populations may potentially interbreed with those of other populations if they should encounter them. Furthermore, biotypes may consist of individuals sharing a genotype that is not fixed within a monophyletic group, and thus may not be evolutionarily stable. This raises the question of how such populations should be classified, and how to confirm the identity of live arthropods before releasing them as classical biological control agents. The existence of host races or cryptic species may greatly increase the number of prospective biological control agents available. However, it may also create new challenges for governmental regulation. These issues are discussed using pertinent examples, mainly from North America.
PB  - Springer, Dordrecht
T2  - Biocontrol
T1  - The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective
EP  - 425
IS  - 3
SP  - 417
VL  - 63
DO  - 10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Smith, Lincoln and Cristofaro, Massimo and Bon, Marie-Claude and De Biase, Alessio and Petanović, Radmila and Vidović, Biljana",
year = "2018",
abstract = "Classical biological control of weeds depends on finding agents that are highly host-specific. This requires not only correctly understanding the identity of the target plant, sometimes to subspecific levels, in order to find suitable agents, but also identifying agents that are sufficiently specific to be safe and effective. Behavioral experiments and molecular genetic tools have revealed that some arthropod species previously thought to be polyphagous really consist of multiple cryptic species, host races or biotypes, some of which are more host-specific than others. Whereas true species are reproductively isolated, individuals from subspecific populations may potentially interbreed with those of other populations if they should encounter them. Furthermore, biotypes may consist of individuals sharing a genotype that is not fixed within a monophyletic group, and thus may not be evolutionarily stable. This raises the question of how such populations should be classified, and how to confirm the identity of live arthropods before releasing them as classical biological control agents. The existence of host races or cryptic species may greatly increase the number of prospective biological control agents available. However, it may also create new challenges for governmental regulation. These issues are discussed using pertinent examples, mainly from North America.",
publisher = "Springer, Dordrecht",
journal = "Biocontrol",
title = "The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective",
pages = "425-417",
number = "3",
volume = "63",
doi = "10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z"
}

Smith, L., Cristofaro, M., Bon, M., De Biase, A., Petanović, R.,& Vidović, B.. (2018). The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective. in Biocontrol
Springer, Dordrecht., 63(3), 417-425.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z

Smith L, Cristofaro M, Bon M, De Biase A, Petanović R, Vidović B. The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective. in Biocontrol. 2018;63(3):417-425.
doi:10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z .

Smith, Lincoln, Cristofaro, Massimo, Bon, Marie-Claude, De Biase, Alessio, Petanović, Radmila, Vidović, Biljana, "The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective" in Biocontrol, 63, no. 3 (2018):417-425,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z . .