Insect Biological Control and Non-target Effects L.D. Lynch et al. 6 6 Insect Biological Control and Non-target Effects: a European Perspective L.D. Lynch, 1 H.M.T. Hokkanen, 2 D. Babendreier, 3 F. Bigler, 3 G. Burgio, 4 Z.-H. Gao, 2 S. Kuske, 3 A. Loomans, 5 I. Menzler-Hokkanen, 2 M.B. Thomas, 1 G. Tommasini, 6 J.K. Waage, 1 J.C. van Lenteren 5 and Q.-Q. Zeng 2 1 CABI Bioscience, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5 7TA, UK; 2 Department of Applied Zoology, Latokatanonkaari 5, Box 27, University of Helsinki, Finland; 3 Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, Reckenholzstr. 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland; 4 Institute of Entomology ‘G. Grandi’, University of Bologna, Via F., Re 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; 5 Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 7, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands; 6 Centre for Research on Environmental Agriculture – Centrale Ortofrutticola – Via Masiera 1a, 1191 47020 Martorano di Cesena (FC), Italy Abstract A 4-year research project on ‘Evaluating Environmental Risks of Biocontrol Introductions in Europe’ (ERBIC) is described, and early results are presented. The project focuses on arthropod biological control (using both microbial and macrobial agents), and uses literature review, case studies with empirical work and various types of modelling to illuminate risk to non-target organisms. These methods will hopefully lead to the develop- ment of usable methodologies and guidelines for risk assessment in arthropod biological control, by the project’s completion in 2002. Reviewing existing published and unpublished data on the classical biological control of insects (a first step in this project) has revealed that for only 1.5% of introductions is there some data regarding the realized field © CAB International 2001. Evaluating Indirect Ecological Effects of Biological Control (eds E. Wajnberg, J.K. Scott and P.C. Quimby) 99