In practice, there are three different major biological control strategies:

• Classical biological control that aims at the permanent establishment of one or several exotic natural enemies for the sustainable control of a generally exotic plant pest;

• Inoculative or inundative biological control that consists of releasing biocontrol agents at different frequencies and in different quantities in crops;

• and conservation biological control whose aim is to manage or modify the agrosystem, its surroundings or cultural practices in order to protect and enhance the presence of natural native enemies

The implementation of these projects is based on several sequential steps: (i) Inventory of the natural enemies; (ii) Study of the rearing possibilities of the biocontrol agents; (iii) Inter- or intraspecific comparisons of the biological features, particularly in terms of host specificity, life history traits or responses to major abiotic or biotic factors; (iv) Validation of the effectiveness of the chosen biocontrol agents in semi-field or field conditions; (v) Optimisation of release strategies (number, frequency, composition, positioning over time or space). In addition to this work on the biocontrol agents, we also focus on the biology and ecology of the hosts or preys: (vi) Rearing of the target pest as well as of non-target or substitute species; and (vii) Demography and ecology of the pest in the field.

Within the framework of this optimisation approach, the unit also tries to identify and test the generic mechanisms linked to the success or failure of biological control. To do so, we establish research partnerships with more fundamental research teams (for example, in the fields of population biology, behavioural ecology and community ecology).

• Mealybugs: Pseudococus viburni and P. comstocki
• Arrowhead scale: Unaspis yanonensis
• Sugarcane borer: Chilo sacchariohagus
• Olive fruit fly: Bactrocera oleae

Scientific expertise

The Biological Control Unit is devoted to studying the feasibility of biological control methods for (re)emerging or recurrent bioagressors. This work is at the interface between agronomic or social partners (technical institutes, producers, citizen representatives) and the scientific community where the BC Unit draws on the concepts and tools necessary for the optimisation of its approach.
Our areas of expertise are mainly the establishment of biological control programmes that target cochineals or lepidopterous insects or classical biological control programmes that target newly introduced exotic pests.
 

• What are the main causes of failure or success for a biological control programme?

• What are the biological characteristics (physiological or behaviour-related) of an efficient biocontrol agent?

• What is the relevance of laboratory studies with regard to the in natura efficiency of biocontrol agents?

To develop or transfer new biological control methods based on the use of beneficial insects to control crop insect pests.

National partnerships: UMR INRA-CIRAD-IRD CBGP, UMR INRA-INSA BF21 and UMR CNRS 5558 BBE.
International partnerships: EBCL

Partnerships with organisations in the agri-food sectors: AFIDOL, AGRIBIO 06, AREFLEC, FDGDON, ITV, etc.
Partnerships with private companies: BIOTOP, SAVEOL