Mass Rearing of Insects for Biological Control of Weeds

Mass rearing of insect agents for biological control of weeds involves a choice of appropriate rearing methods. This choice will be influenced by available resources such as money, labour, facilities, essential supplies and transport, and by factors associated with the agent itself.

The literature on mass rearing of insects concentrates mostly on industrial scale rearing used for biological control of insect pests or for sterile insect release programs, and largely ignores biological control of weeds or gives it cursory examination (DeBach 1964; Huffaker and Messenger 1976; Chambers 1977, Mackauer 1972, 1976, 1980; Bigler 1989). This literature is useful for the general principles, particularly in respect to quality control, but there is little or no discussion of technique. Literature reporting on individual weed biological control programs occasionally includes aspects on laboratory or insectary rearing. More detailed information on this subject is provided on the pages listed to the left.

Graham Donnelly