Reassessing Evidence for Competitive Exclusion of Introduced Natural Enemies

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Abstract
Data presented by Ehler and Hall (1982; Environ. Entomol. 11: 1–4), suggesting that competitive exclusion among introduced natural enemies has probably occurred, may be interpreted differently. Possible biases in the entomological literature and success-directed selection of natural enemies for release might have produced an apparent inverse relationship between rate of establishment of introduced natural enemies and number of species released. Intense competition among beneficial species is not likely to occur during attempted colonization when pests are abundant.