CHAPTER 4
 RE-CONFIRMING HOST SPECIFICITY OF THE FIRE ANT DECAPITATING FLY
 Pseudacteon curvatus AFTER FIELD RELEASE IN FLORIDA3

 Introduction

 Critics of biological control programs have argued that there is a lack of post-

release monitoring on nontarget effects arising from released exotic insects. Howarth

(1991) stated that negative environmental impacts of biological control introductions

have not been well documented. Similarly, others have complained that releases of

nonindigenous species on target organisms have led to reduction in populations of

nontarget species due to inappropriate protocols on host specificity of these

nonindigenous species (Barron et al. 2003, Civeyrel and Simberloff 1996, Hopper 2001,

Howarth 1991, Secord and Kareiva 1996, Simberloff and Stiling 1996a, b). However, in

spite of these criticisms the biocontrol community appears to have a good record of

environmental safety (Lindgren 2003, McEvoy et al. 1991). Similarly, Pemberton (2000)

analyzed works dealing with 117 natural enemies of 55 weed species and found that only

1 natural enemy completes development in a nontarget plant. A significant problem

appears to be that biocontrol practitioners have not always done an adequate j ob of

documenting the post establishment host specificity of organisms that they release.

 However, this problem is beginning to be rectified. For example, post-release

monitoring has been done for releases of the chrysomelid beetle Galerucella calmariensis

on purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria (in Michigan; Landis et al. 2003, in Canada;


3 In Press, Florida Entomologist 2004