Contributions to improve current environmental risk assessment procedures of generalist arthropod biological control agents (GABCAs) in Argentina

LUNA, MARÍA G.; CÉDOLA, CLAUDIA; SÁNCHEZ, NORMA E.; ACHINELLY, M. FERNANDA

BIOCONTROL (DORDRECHT)

SPRINGER

Año: 2020

1386-6141

Abstract Argentina has over 100 years of experi- ence in classical biological control, mostly based on the importation of biological control agents (BCAs) against arthropod pests. We present the state-of-the-art of the importation regulatory framework from the last 30 years to date. We also applied a part of a recent developed environmental risk assessment (ERA) methodology to analyze retrospectively the potential negative effects on non-target species of 15 BCAs (12 parasitoids and three predators) imported since 1996 in Argentina, supported by the published literature (Tier 1 Scoping Assessment and Tier 2 Screening Assessment). We demonstrated that the previously imported species could have negative effects on non- target species [Adverse Effect risk characteriza- tion [ 5 for ERA categories 2 (Reduction of native natural enemies), 3 (Reduction in herbivory) and 4 (Reduction in valued species)], which would be worth evaluating with a Definitive Assessment (Tier 3) and field research to determine if any were actually occurring. We discuss some suggestions for govern- ment organizations, state officials and decision makers, scientific researchers, and biological control practitioners to improve the current evaluation for the introduction of new BCAs into Argentina.