Bee hives. They might look at first glance like seething anarchy, but the bees know exactly what they are doing. With astounding skill, precise expertise and impressive teamwork they carry out their plans. The Honey Factory plunges the reader into the life of a colony of bees and takes them on a tour of their 'factory'. This is a world inhabited by headstrong individuals with clever methods and an amazing set of rules. Why aren't male bees allowed to stay in their colony just as it is getting cosy? What lies behind the sexual excesses of a young queen bee? And how do all the bees in a hive come to collective decisions? The Honey Factory answers these questions and more. Combining the most fascinating discoveries and greatest secrets in bee research, it ultimately shows readers why bees are so precious and why humans and bees cannot survive without each other.

This second edition of Natural Enemies will give students, professionals, and anyone wishing to learn the basics of biological control a fully updated and thorough introduction. The book discusses the huge diversity of organisms used in the control of pests, weeds and plant pathogens, and compares the many different strategies referred to as 'biological control': the introduction of exotic natural enemies, application of predators, parasitoids, and microorganisms as biopesticides, and manipulation of the environment to enhance natural enemy populations. The authors present the ecological concepts which form the bases of biological control and discuss recent changes to make biological control safe for the environment. Case studies are included throughout, providing in-depth examples of the use of different organisms and strategies in a variety of ecosystems. A new chapter covers the current challenges; the impact of climate change, the problem of invasive species, and how biological control can aid sustainability.

Insects display a staggering diversity of behaviors. Studying these systems provides insights into a wide range of ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral questions including the genetics of behavior, phenotypic plasticity, chemical communication, and the evolution of life-history traits. This accessible text offers a new approach that provides the reader with the necessary theoretical and conceptual foundations, at different hierarchical levels, to understand insect behavior. The book is divided into three main sections: mechanisms, ecological and evolutionary consequences, and applied issues. The final section places the preceding chapters within a framework of current threats to human survival - climate change, disease, and food security - before providing suggestions and insights as to how we can utilize an understanding of insect behavior to control and/or ameliorate them. Each chapter provides a concise, authoritative review of the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological foundations of each topic.