Mass rearing and releasing biological control agents for weed species. What’s it all about?

Abstract

The process of mass rearing and releasing biological control agents involves mass producing and releasing approved post-risk analysis introduced agents, at facilities such as Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) Tropical Weeds Research Centre (TWRC) in Charters Towers. The purpose of a program is to disseminate these agents, achieve establishment and spread, whilst impacting invasive weed species. This involves a web of interconnecting factors.
This paper will discuss the processes, challenges and considerations used at TWRC to mass rear and release biological control agents for the management of targeted invasive weed species for northern Australia over the last 20 years.