Every generalist biological control agent requires a special risk assessment

In an Environmental Risk Analysis (ERA) benefits and risks of a biocontrol agent (BCA) or other beneficial organisms are assessed using criteria based on ecological determinants such as the potential and impact of establishment and dispersal, on known and new hosts (host range vs. specificity) and direct and indirect non-target effects. There is a wide variety of natural enemies used for biocontrol, each of which has its specific biological and ecological requirements. In regulatory requirements for regulation and registration of non-native agents, assessment of host specificity is one of the main criteria in evaluating risks. Establishing a generalist's potential host range in a new area is one of the most challenging issues to be assessed prior to its introduction and release. Thus, generalist predators and parasitoids are often excluded a priori from being licensed. Here we will discuss several examples of different taxa with a generalist host range and show that each of them has specific requirements and as a result require a specific risk assessment of their own.

Automated summary

In Environmental Risk Analysis, assessment of the benefits and risks of biocontrol agents or other beneficial organisms considers criteria like establishment and dispersal potential, host specificity, and non-target effects. Host specificity is a key criterion in evaluating risks of non-native agents. Organisms with a generalist host range require specific risk assessments before introduction.