Agricultural Insect Pests Of Temperate Regions And Their Control

This handbook is a companion to Agricultural Insect Pests of the Tropics and their Control (2nd Edition 1983) and, like the earlier book, it is designed as a source of reference about most of the major insect and mite pests of agricultural crops. These two volumes by the same author now present a world-wide coverage of the economically important insect pests of tropical and temperate agriculture. Students taking courses in entomology, agriculture, crop pest biology and crop protection, and professional workers concerned with identification and control of insect pests, will find this comprehensive account an indispensable handbook and source of reference.

Agricultural Entomology presents a global view of the insect groups that are of major significance to human resources. "Agriculture" in this broad sense includes plants grown for food, horticultural field crops, and other ornamentals. Information is also included on insect pests of stored products, forest resources, and livestock, although in less detail. The book is intended for use as a college text and reference and assumes a basic knowledge of entomology but is also of great value outside the classroom for its comprehensive and detailed approach. There is a chapter on beneficial insects, including pollinators, honeybees, silkworms, and insects from which shellac and cochineal are made. Hundreds of high-quality line drawings and black-and-white photographs illustrate the insects, and an illustrated glossary and indexes of scientific and common names are provided. Almost all countries of the world are undergoing agricultural diversification programs with the introduction of new and exotic crops. Yet most books on insect pests restrict coverage to one country or region or to the tropics or temperate zones. The global approach of Agricultural Entomology emphasizes the similarities and important differences between insect pests of the major continents. It thus brings attention to insect species that might well spread as pests to new geographical areas. Closely related species are also treated, highlighting problems of control that could result from unsubstantiated identifications. Agricultural Entomology is a valuable resource for growers and gardeners interested in the developing field of integrated pest management. With copious information on the biology of insects around the globe, this authoritative and comprehensive book is an essential tool for anyone interested in understanding both the foes and allies of the insect world.

Pest and disease management continues to challenge the agricultural community. The rise in new pest and crop problems juxtaposed with public concern over pesticide use and more stringent environmental regulations creates the need for today's agricultural producers to stay current with new technologies for producing quality crops profitably. Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests presents an overview of alternative measures to traditional pest management practices, utilizing biological control and biotechnology. The removal of some highly effective broad-spectrum chemicals, caused by concerns over environmental health and public safety, has resulted in the development of alternative, reduced risk crop protection products. These products, less toxic to the environment and easily integrated into biological control systems, target specific life stages or pest species. Predation - recognized as a suitable, long term strategy - effectively suppresses pests in biotechnological control systems. Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests covers these topics and more. It explores the current approaches in alternative solutions such as: biological control agents, parasites and predators, pathogenic microorganisms, pheromones, botanical insecticides, genetic control, genetic engineering of plants and biocontrol agents, and government regulations for biocontrol agents and recombinant DNA technology. This book will be a useful resource to entomologists, agronomists, horticulturists, and environmental scientists.

This book is intended to serve as an introduction to the pests of stored foodstuffs of all types on a worldwide basis, and as a broad reference text. It is aimed at being complementary to the more detailed and more specific texts that are listed in the References. It does presuppose an adequate basic knowledge of entomology and zoology in the user. The stored products mentioned in the text are commercial products in the widest sense, including all types of plant and animal materials in addition to grain and prepared foodstuffs. Storage is viewed very broadly, from one day on a shelf to several years in a silo, or refrigerated store at -20°C. In many publications the produce surveyed has been restricted to stored grains, because of their obvious importance to human society, and because of the great quantities involved. For many different materials, of both plant and animal origin, there is a shortage of specific information, but it is to be hoped that this situation will gradually be rectified. It should be clearly understood that any reference to animal pests is made in the strict zoological sense, and refers to any members of the Kingdom Animalia. There is a regrettable tendency in some circles to use the term ‘animal’ as being synonymous with ‘mammal’ – a habit to be deplored! There is definite emphasis on animal pests in this text, but micro-organisms are included where relevant.

Introduction; What is entomology?; The practical importance of insects; Insect structure and function; Growth, development, metamorphosis; Reproduction and life cycles; Insect identification and classification; Mites, and other non-insect pests; Insects and plants; Predators, parasites and pathogens; The ecological background to pest control; Pest control principles and practices; The pest management concept; Information required in dealing with a pest problem; Appendix 1-2; Index.

In the last few decades there has been an ever-increasing component in most BSc Zoology degree courses of cell biology, physiology and genetics, for spectacular developments have taken place in these fields. Some aspects of biotechnology are now also being included. In order to accommodate the new material, the old zoology courses were altered and the traditional two-year basis of systematics of the animal kingdom, comparative anatomy (and physiology) and evolution, was either severely trimmed or reduced and presented in an abridged form under another title. Soon after these course alterations came the swing to modular teaching in the form of a series of shorter, separate courses, some of which were optional. The entire BSc degree course took on a different appearance and several different basic themes became possible. One major result was that in the great majority of cases taxonomy and systematics were no longer taught and biology students graduated without this basic training. We field biologists did appreciate the rising interest in ecology and environ mental studies, but at the same time lamented the shortage of taxonomic skills, so that often field work was based on incorrect identifications. For years many of us with taxonomic inclinations have been bedevilled by the problem of teaching systematics to undergraduates. At a guess, maybe only 5% of students find systematics interesting. It is, however, the very basis of all studies in biology - the correct identification of the organism concerned and its relationships to others in the community.

This text brings together fundamental information on insect taxa, morphology, ecology, behavior, physiology, and genetics. Close relatives of insects, such as spiders and mites, are included.