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 . .