Exploration is required to collect, identify and evaluate potential biological control agents. For some weeds, exploration for natural enemies has been very intensive and may be ongoing, whilst for others little or no exploratory work has been done. If exploration has been carried out and potential agents identified, then the cost of the biological control program can be reduced and the introduction of agents hastened by collaborating with the institution which has carried out the exploratory program. If no or insufficient exploratory studies have been carried out and the weed is causing economic losses to primary industry, and/or threatening conservation, then an exploratory program to find natural enemies of the weed which are suitable for introduction may be undertaken. There are recommended basic steps to be followed when commencing an exploratory program (See the pages listed to the left).