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. 1978 Jun 15;273(5663):513-9.
doi: 10.1038/273513a0.

Characteristics of successful natural enemies in models of biological control of insect pests

J R Beddington, C A Free, J H Lawton

Characteristics of successful natural enemies in models of biological control of insect pests

J R Beddington et al. Nature. .

Abstract

Biological control of insect pests is characterised by a persistent, strong reduction in the pest population following the introduction of a natural enemy. Analysis of mathematical models suggests that differential exploitation of patches of the pest in a spatially heterogeneous environment provides the most likely mechanism to account for known successes.

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