Pre-release host specificity testing can reliably predict the environmental safety of weed biological control agent (BCA) candidates but typically does not consider their host-finding behavior. Therefore, BCA candidates that do not utilize non-target plants in the field post-release, despite development on such plants in pre-release tests, may be prematurely disqualified for release. We addressed this issue with the seedpod we...

Improving success rates of classical weed biocontrol programs is an ongoing effort that requires a variety of different approaches. Previous assessments indicated biocontrol agent taxonomy and feeding characteristics and weed life history traits are associated with better control outcomes. We examined weed biocontrol releases for correlations between biocontrol agent and target weed traits associated with different levels of r...

Nonnative invasive plants (weeds) negatively impact native biodiversity, ecosystem services, agriculture, and the economic interests and health of humans. Since 1902, biological weed control has been employed as a cost-effective and sustainable management option for weeds in the USA. However, biological control is not appropriate for all weeds, nor is sufficient funding available to develop biological control for all weed spec...