Trichogramma: Nontarget risk assessment methodologies and guidelines

Abstract

Mass production and release of trichogrammatids is emerging as a popular biocontrol practice in India, keeping pace with the significant progress in national R&D in biocontrol, backed by policy support in favour of eco-friendly pest control technologies. While Trichogramma releases are generally regarded as ecologically benign, ethical and environmental considerations call for proactive assessment of potential risks to nontarget organisms in the context of safety to beneficial insects and conservation of agro-biodiversity. Trichogramma is among the model group of biocontrol agents being currently researched upon globally for environmental risk assessment. The global scenario on the guidelines and methodologies being developed and adopted in such risk assessment studies is summarised, along with selective illustra- tion of the recent results of this research theme in the different aspects. While the major concern has been on the potential and actual risks of species introduced from elsewhere for classical biocontrol, some attention is also given to native species/strains being inundatively released in agroecosystems, as risk to native biodiversity conservation. In India, this theme is just beginning to be recognised. The scope for developing ecologically sound and socially acceptable principles and guidelines for such nontarget studies relevant to the Indian situation is discussed.