A two and one-half day conference on biological control of insects will be held November 1-3 at
the Clifford Hardin Nebraska Center for Continuing Education in Lincoln. This conference,
co-sponsored by the UNL Center for Sustainable Agricultural Systems and the North Central
Regional Research Committee for Biological Control of Pest Arthropods, will discuss the
biology, identification, and use of different natural enemies in insect management. Breakout
sessions will address biological controls in specific commodity areas (corn, turf/ornamentals,
alfalfa, grain sorghum, horticulutral crops, livestock). Live and preserved natural enemies will be
available in a laboratory session. Registration is $95 ($25 for students) and will include a
comprehensive biological control publication. A program flyer and registration material is
available from Nancy Fields, Conference Coordinator, (402) 472-2844. The conference agenda
is below.
November 1
8:15 a.m. Introduction to Conference
Session 1: Understanding the Basics
8:30-9:45 Understanding Insects and Mites as Pests
9:45-10:00 Break
10:00-10:45 An Introductory Survey of Natural Enemies: Predators, Parasites, and
Pathogens
10:45-11:30 An Overview of the Approaches to Biological Control: Importation, Augmentation, and Conservation
11:30-12:00 Adoption of Biological Control
12:00-1:30 Lunch (on your own)
Session 2: Recognizing and Understanding Beneficial Natural Enemies
1:30-2:30 Recognizing and Understanding Common Predators
2:30-3:30 Recognizing and Understanding Common Parasites
3:30-3:45 Break
3:45-5:00 Recognizing and Understanding Common Pathogens
November 2
Session 3: Avenues to the Implementation of Biological Control
8:00-8:45 Importation of Exotic Natural Enemies: Successes in the Midwest and Potential Future Targets
8:45-9:45 Augmentation of Natural Enemies: Commercially Available Predators and parasites
9:45-10:00 Break
10:00-10:30 Augmentation of Natural Enemies: Microbial Insecticides and Nematodes
10:30-11:00 How to Order and Release Natural Enemies
11:00-12:00 Habitat Management For Conservation and Augmentation of Natural Enemies
12:00-1:30 Lunch (on your own)
Session 4: Applications of Biological Control to Specific Crops and Settings
1:30-3:00 Breakout Sessions
3:00-3:15 Break
3:15-5:00 Breakout Sessions
November 3
8:00-12:00 Natural Enemy Recognition Laboratory
8:00-10:00 Educational Videos
