Abstract
The chapter reviews the factors that limit the success of insects for weed biological control, including factors that regulate control agent populations and factors that influence weed response to insects. It addresses the use of conservation biological control strategies with native agents while drawing on experiences from studies on rangeland weeds and the aquatic weed Eurasian watermilfoil. The importance of establishing the factors responsible for the success or failure of weed biological control projects is becoming more and more apparent. Most conservation strategies include population protection or informed and appropriate use of pesticides to maintain native or exotic biological control agents. In addition, strategies such as habitat protection to preserve critical habitat or refugia and plant community management to maintain and enhance the effectiveness of existing biological control agents need to be exercised. The role of resistance has rarely been considered in weed biological control because most weed biological control agents are specialists and thought to be adapted to overcome their host's defensive systems. Properly timed range management practices can protect populations of native biological control agents, increasing their effectiveness.
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