An Active Approach to the Use of Insect Biological Control for the Management of Non-Native Aquatic Plants

Today, the use of insect biological control for the management of aquatic and wetland plants is typically a rather passive procedure from the viewpoint of resource managers. Insects are released, usually by researchers, with little or no direct input or effort by management personnel. However, the effectiveness of biological control could be enhanced if resource managers took an active role in its use. Four steps should be utilized in order to achieve a more active approach to the use of biological control. These include gaining an understanding of the insect agents, initiating yearly surveys to determine insect population levels and immediate and long-term impact, supplementing the insect populations if surveys reveal low numbers, and developing integrated procedures to minimize impact of the varied management techniques to one another. Utilizing a more active approach increases the awareness of biological control techniques and should result in increased effectiveness.