Insects And Pest Management In Australian Agriculture

This is the first introductory text to deal with the problems caused by insects as pests in Australian agriculture and related primary industry, and the use of insects to combat pests such as insects and weeds. It emphasizes Australian examples throughout and is designed specifically to reflect traditional and recent developments associated with pest management in Australia and other countries. The development of integrated pest management is a central theme, but chapters are provided on all major facets of pest control, with accounts of their development, importance and contributions to current management strategy and practice. Each chapter concludes with suggestions for further reading and the most recent references are cited to give students, applied entomologists, researchers and agriculturists the most current and comprehensive information available.

This comprehensive handbook on economic entomology for Australian field crops and pastures is the first of its kind. It encompasses pests and beneficial insects as well as allied forms of importance in Australian agriculture. Organised by commodities – such as cereals, sugar and tropical pasture legumes – it examines all the pest species for a particular commodity across Australia. Identification, distribution, damage, host range, biology, risk period and monitoring techniques are described for each entry, accompanied by useful illustrations. The book also describes introduced biological control agents that effectively control crop pests. Pests of Field Crops and Pastures will be a useful tool in crop management for progressive farmers, agronomists, agricultural consultants and academics alike.

Controlling Invertebrate Pests in Agriculture discusses the principles of pest management and relates this to historical methods as well as current and future directions. It describes current practice, the concept of agricultural ecosystems, the role of pesticides and cultural control options. A separate chapter covers biological control and the different ways in which this may be implemented. The book provides a detailed examination of the application of pesticides, the different types that are available and how they may be integrated into more holistic approaches. A summary of all available pest control measures is given to allow the reader to decide which approach is best to adopt. The authors clearly describe why the most ecologically sound methods are not always adopted, but also explain why they can be adopted with great success. Examples of successful implementation of Integrated Pest Management are highlighted, together with a discussion on what is required in the future to achieve successful control of pests in a sustainable manner.

Accurate identification of insects and diseases is essential for good management. It helps growers to avoid costly mistakes, and is especially valuable for growers using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to minimise their use of pesticides. This book presents the key results of recent extensive research and wide consultation. It is essential reading for all potato growers and industry advisers in Australia. The latest research information; detailed and reliable; easy to read and to use; fully illustrated to aid identification.

Integrated Pest Management for Crops and Pastures describes in straightforward language what is required for farmers to successfully implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in cropping and grazing operations. It explains the differences between conventional pesticide-based controls and IPM, and demonstrates the advantages of IPM. Effective control of pests depends on a number of approaches, not just chemical or genetic engineering. The opening chapters cover the different approaches to pest management, and the importance of identification and monitoring of pests and beneficials. Most farmers and advisors can identify major pests but would struggle to recognise a range of beneficial species. Without this information it is impossible to make appropriate decisions on which control methods to use, especially where pests are resistant to insecticides. The book goes on to deal with the control methods: biological, cultural and chemical. The biological control agents discussed include both native and introduced species that attack pests. Cultural changes that have led to an increase in the incidence or severity of pest attack are also examined. The chapter on chemical control describes the different ways chemicals can affect beneficial species, also detailing acute, sub-lethal and transient toxicities of pesticides, drawing on examples from horticulture where necessary. Finally, the authors bring all the components of integrated pest management together and show farmers how to put their IPM plan into action.

"This volume represents the Proceedings of Australian Applied Entomological Research Conference which was held in Canberra from 28 April to 1 May, 1992" -- Preface.