Forest insect population ecology and classical biological control

FISCHBEIN, D; CORLEY J.C

Congreso; IUFRO Working Group 7.03.13 ?Biological control of forest insects and pathogens?; 2019

FABI

Populations of forest insects can display an array of dynamic behaviours, ranging from stable equilibrium, to cycles or violent outbreaks. When they become pests, as often occurs when species are transported and establish outside their native range, the dynamics their populations show, becomes a key aspect of success in pest management. In classical biological control, if and how natural enemies affect pest populations depends not only on their own biology (e.g., to establish growing and spreading populations), but also on the dynamics of their interaction with the pest population. We review the main population ecology patterns observed in both native and alien of forest insects and underline their influence on classical biological control. We note that for many economically important cases, their population dynamics remains remarkably understudied, limiting our learning of failures and successes in their management.