Measuring the Impact of Biological Control Agents on Weeds

'Success [in weed biological control] can only be claimed when it is shown through suitable evaluation that the agents have caused a decrease in weed density... or have inhibited the spread of the weed....It is erroneous to equate establishment of agents and demonstrable damage with success because the impact of herbivore damage on the dynamics of plants is often not apparent' (Hoffmann 1990), and may not be significant.

This section provides guidelines for a carefully planned and executed program necessary to demonstrate the impact of biological control agents. Other sections that provide information of relevance to evaluation are Ecological Studies and Benefit Cost Analysis.