Hoping to tag-team invading insect and plant species with the
oldest and newest in scientific approaches, researchers from
22 nations will gather Oct. 14-16 in Montpellier, France, for
a symposium on "The Role of Genetics and Evolution in
Biological Control."


The scientists will be sharing the latest information on how
molecular biology can be applied to traditional biological-
control techniques in order to combat insect pests and
invasive plants.


"One of the most effective means for dealing with invasive
insect pests and weeds is classical biological control, which
relies on the introduction of natural enemies of the invader
from its native home," says Lester Ehler, a UC Davis
entomology professor and president of the International
Organization for Biological Control, which is hosting the
symposium.


"Ideally, the enemies should come from the precise location
in the native home from which the invader originated," Ehler
says. "With advances in molecular genetics, we now have the
tools to determine that location. This will greatly improve
our ability to find a natural enemy that is well adapted to
the target invasive pest."


In addition to this application of molecular biology,
scientists also are considering the mass-rearing of
genetically modified species to control unwanted insect
pests. Furthermore, they are exploring how compatible
genetically modified crops and natural enemies of insect
pests may be.


For example, many genetically modified crops express a toxin,
derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), that
kills certain insect pests. Bt cotton was developed to
control the cotton bollworm, Bt corn for control of European
corn borer, and Bt potatoes for control of Colorado potato
beetle.


"We are especially interested in the effect of the Bt toxin
on natural enemies of crop pests, particularly those enemies
that target crop pests that are not affected by the toxin,"
Ehler says.


Media contacts:
-- Lester Ehler, Entomology, (530) 752-0484,
leehler@ucdavis.edu. (While away from campus for the
symposium, he will respond to e-mail messages or may be
reached by phone at Hotel Mercure Centre, 33 (0) 4 67 99 89
89, fax 4 67 99 89 88.)