We have split the search criteria into 3 distinct areas to make it easy to search the database. You can use any combination of the search fields below to find exactly what you are looking for. To see more non specific releases just leave the search fields blank.
We have included a detailed explanation below of the search fields as well as a help system throughout the page to aid you in your searches. To get specific help click on any of red question marks .

After entering in the search criteria your results will be shown in a new table where you can get more detailed information pertaining to the specific releases. You may also elect to take the data into excel for further analysis by using the EXCEL DOWNLOAD button located at the bottom of the page.

Catalog Search Areas

Target

Target pest: Scientific name of the target agent (pest), including synonyms of the agent that are used in the literature on its use in biocontrol.

Natural Enemy

Release type:The database consists of 2 parts: released parasitoids and predatory insects or mites.
You have the option of searching:
1- By Parasitoid
2- By Predator
3- Both (leave them both checked )

Natural enemy: Scientific name of the natual enemy including any synonyms that have been used in the literature.

Genus: The genus of the biocontrol agent.

Family: The family of the biocontrol agent.

Release

Place released: Select the country or place of a release. Primary geographic units include:

• Canada
• Mexico
• USA
• USA overseas areas of Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Generally, no attempts are made to track state-by-state releases within the USA.
Some releases in California are tracked separately in addition to releases in the eastern USA because California is a distinct ecoregion with a strong history of biological control activity.

Year released:Enter the 4 digit year of the release you are searching for. To search for a range of years, enter both a min and max year span.
* Generally, only first releases of a new species are recorded. Second attempts to release a species that follow an earlier failed attempt are tracked in some cases.
**Releases made before 1985 are not included in this catalog.

Enemy Origin:The country or region of origination for the released biocontrol agent is given if it could be determined. When the release material was not obtained directly from the agent's native range, the countries or regions from where it was obtained are given, preceded by "via". For example, "from Thailand via California for release in Mexico" indicates a species originally from Thailand was released in California and then subsequently collected in California for release in Mexico.

Laboratory host range testing done:"Yes" indicates formal laboratory-based host range testing was conducted before release of the agent. "No" indicates formal laboratory-based host range testing was not done before the agent's release.

Host Specificity Level:The taxonomic level listed is the smallest taxonomic unit that encompasses all known hosts or prey of the agent. This does not imply that all species within that taxonomic unit are hosts, but rather that it contains all the known hosts, and therefore likely contains the host range. In general, the classification levels available for use in characterization of host specificity of agents are

• species
• genus
• family
• two or more families in one order or several orders

Some details concerning our judgment on the likely host range include the following points:
a. When the stated classification level is preceded by a "Possibly", the specificity of the agent may be at the indicated classification level; however, there are too few reports on the species to have full confidence in it having that narrow of a host range.
b. When the stated classification level is followed by a question mark (?), the host range appears to be confined to the single named classification level, but there are a small number of host records that fall outside the classification level, but for which the validity of the records seems uncertain or needs confirmation.

Establishment:

• A plus sign "+" indicates the successful establishment of the agent on its target organism
• A negative sign "-" indicates the agent did not establish
• A question mark "?" alone indicates it remains unknown if the agent established
• A question mark in combination with a plus or minus sign, such as "+?", indicates there is some evidence supporting the listed conclusion, but the evidence is either too limited or otherwise subject to some doubt

Impact:

• A plus sign "+" indicates the successful measurable impact of the agent on its target organism
• A negative sign "-" indicates the agent has no measurable impact on the target
• A question mark "?" alone indicates that its impact on the target pest remains unknown.
  In these cases, no information on outcomes is available
• A question mark in combination with a plus or minus sign, such as "+?", indicates there is some evidence supporting the listed conclusion, but the evidence is either too limited or otherwise subject to some doubt

References:You can search by specific references by typing in the name directly. All references used in any aspect of the catalog, are included in this list.