Standard methods to test the side‐effects of pesticides on natural enemies of insects and mites developed by the IOBC/WPRS Working Group ‘Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms’

A short description is given of 19 laboratory, 12 semi‐field and 5 field methods to test the side‐effects of pesticides on beneficial organisms. The methods were developed according to standard guidelines by members of the Working Group ‘Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms’ of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC), West Palaearctic Regional Section (WPRS); 28 members in nine countries participated and the beneficial organisms (natural enemies of insects and mites) included: 6 Hymenoptera, 4 Coleoptera, 2 Diptera, 1 Neuroptera, 1 Heteroptera, 3 Acari, 1 Aranea, 1 entomopathogenic fungus (Hyphomycetes). There is agreement that a combination of laboratory, semi‐field and field tests is needed to show the side‐effects of pesticides on beneficial organisms and that the beneficials chosen for the test should be relevant to the crop on which the pesticide is to be used.