Personnel with appropriate training in biological control are essential for the effective management of a project. Projects that commence with little information on the target weed and no information on associated natural enemies will require about 11 to 24 scientist years (Andres 1977; Harris 1979) and cost approximately $1-2 million each (Menz et al. 1984). However, where a weed has been controlled successfully in one country, the cost of introducing the successful agent into another country is comparatively little, the time to achieve control reduced (5 to 10 years) and chances of success are increased (Julien et al. 1984). The degree of success in controlling a weed is proportional to the amount and thoroughness of the research carried out (Waterhouse and Norris 1987).

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