Biological control in Argentina.

Abstract

Abstract Biological control in Argentina has a longstanding tradition with records of natural enemy introductions since the beginning of the 20th century, mainly between 1900 and 1940. Eight predators, 70 parasitoids and seven pathogens have been introduced for arthropod control, plus eight weed biocontrol agents. Argentina has also provided 22 arthropod species to Africa, Australia, Canada and the USA for arthropod pest biocontrol. At least 26 agents from Argentina have been released against 24 weeds of South American origin around the world, notably for freshwater invaders. Fruit production and pine plantations still have the largest areas under some degree of classical biocontrol, yet the current impact of the agents is not well known. Citrus fruit flies are under experimental augmentative biocontrol with one parasitoid species and 1 million hectares under an IPM regime that includes cultural control, trapping and SIT technology. As for private initiatives, a small fraction of greenhouse tomatoes and peppers are under augmentative biocontrol. Augmentative releases are also made in sugarcane plantations and citrus groves. Finally, an extensive part of the Argentine territory is affected by thistles and skeleton weed, and several artificial and natural water bodies invaded by native aquatics are subject to classical biocontrol, although they are still important weeds in many areas. Despite the government's explicit endorsement, resources are scarce and applied biocontrol in all its forms is still sorely undeveloped in Argentina.