In addition, any substances used to enhance virulence should be tested along with the test substance. Whenever feasible, dosage shall be in suitable increments up to 100 x the LD 50 or LC 50 of the pathogen in its natural host, or 10-100 x the recommended field dosage. Selection of test species is the responsibility of the researcher. Rationale for selection must be provided. Testing shall be performed on three species of insects representative of those parasites and predators known or suspected to attack the target host or to share the same ecological habitat.
Many protozoans have a wide host range.
Assuming testing is justified, appropriate organism test species should be the major predacious and parasitic regulatory agents common to the ecosystem where the MPCA will be applied. Testing shall be performed on three species of insects representative of those parasites and predators known or suspected to attack the target host or to share the same ecological habitat. The best routes of exposure will depend on the developmental location of the nontarget organism. Internal parasites may be tested with virus-infected hosts, or if they can be cultured in vitro, the virus can be added to the diet. In addition to feeding adult predators and parasites of the target insect with the resistant stage of the protozoan, immature stages of the predator or parasite should be exposed.