Coccinellids have been very actively studied in the course of the twenty three years since "Biology of Coccinellidae" was published. The great amount of new, and often very important findings have made the previous book outdated and a new synthesis is needed. No other monograph of similar focus and extent has appeared. Iablokoff Khnzorian's "Les Coccinelles" (1982), limited to the tribus Coccinellini, and Gor don's "The Coccinellidae of America North of Mexico" (1985) both concentrate on taxonomy. Majerus' beautiful "Ladybirds" (1994) deal specifically with British coc cinellids and address chiefly amateur naturalists. The focus and the title of the recent book are slightly different from the 1973 vol ume. If a satisfactory comprehensive review of important new findings is attempted, the book would grow too much, due also to References and Indexes. To keep the vol ume at a tolerable extent, the section on larval identification of Palaearctic species has been omitted; not much could be added to the previous version of that part, any way. However, we have kept Kovar's chapter on morphology and anatomy, because of its relation to feeding and other ecological aspects. The chapter on phylogeny was updated also by him. Our Polish friend, Piotr Ceryngier, who has recently specialised in parasites, updated perfectly the parts on parasites and pathogens in Chapter 8. We would be glad if their contribution is quoted by their names. It seems to us that the remarks, contained in the reprinted preface to the previous volume, remain pertinent today."

Global warming and globalization are the buzzwords of our time. They have nearly reached a religious status and those who deny their existence are considered modern heretics. Nevertheless, the earth has become an overcrowded village, traversable within a single day. Thus it is hardly surprising that besides persons and goods also agents of disease are easily transported daily from one end of the world to the other, threatening the health and lives of billions of humans and their animals. Agents of diseases (prions, viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites) are not only transmitted by body contact or direct exchange of bodily fluids, but also by means of vectors which belong to the groups of licking or blood-sucking arthropods (mites, ticks, insects) that live close to humans and their houses.

Without a doubt the recently accelerating globalization supports the import of agents of disease into countries where they never had been or where they had long since been eradicated, leading to a false sense of living on a safe island. These newly imported or reintroduced diseases called emerging diseases may lead to severe outbreaks in cases where the countries are not prepared to combat them, or in cases where viruses are introduced that cannot be controlled by medications or vaccines.

Arthropods are well known vectors for the spread of diseases. Thus their invasion from foreign countries and their spreading close to human dwellings must be blocked everywhere (in donor and receptor countries) using safe and effective measures.

This book presents reviews on examples of such arthropod-borne emerging diseases that lurk on the fringes of our crowded megacities. The following topics show that there is an ongoing invasion of potential vectors and that control measures must be used now in order to avoid disastrous outbreaks of mass diseases.

The book discusses planthopper pests of rice. These insects are one of the most destructive pests, threatening food security around the world. The historical development of the rice planthopper problem shows that they are secondary pests and single-discipline control tactics or strategies were not able to manage them, and instead caused frequent resurgences. This book not only presents new approaches to this persistent problem, but also new ecological methods, new perspectives on the effect of pesticide marketing, insights into developing resistant varieties and structural reforms in pest management. Integrating biological, ecological, economic and sociological aspects, it clearly presents the latest information on newly developed strategies for managing this pest. Dr. K. L. Heong is the principal scientist and insect ecologist at the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines. He has been researching rice planthoppers for more than 30 years. Dr. Heong is a fellow of the Third World Academy of Science and the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia. Professor Jia-an Cheng is an insect ecologist who has been studying rice planthoppers for about 50 years. He is a professor at Zhejiang University, China. Professor M.M. Escalada works at Visayas State University.

The papers included in this volume were amongst day running of the conference, and Ms Julia those presented at the 5th International Epheme Reed, Ms Kim James, Ms Anne Devereaux, roptera Conference and the 9th International Mr Peter Green, Ms Catriona Smith who assist Plecoptera Conference at the Marysville Hotel, ed them, Mr David Ginn and all the staff at the Marysville Australia from the 18th to the 24th of Marysville Hotel also deserve special thanks for February 1987. The conference was attended by the the superb catering and relaxed atmosphere 62 participants from 21 countries. This was the they created which contributed so much to the frrst time the two conferences had been held conference. together, and the frrst time either had been held in All the papers included in this volume were the southern hemisphere. refereed prior to acceptance, and I would like to The papers included here cover a broad spectrum thank the following referees: Dr J. Davis, of research into the two orders of aquatic insects, Dr L. Barmuta, Dr R. Marchant, Mr T. Doeg, with the emphasis on life histories, which was the Dr P. Bailey, Dr S. Bunn, Dr R. Rowe, Dr R. theme of a joint symposium held during the con Pearson, Ms C. Yule and Dr P. Suter. Ms Sue ference. The paper by Dr Brittain was presented Mitchell assisted with the typing and Ms Kerrle as a keynote address to that symposium. The Swadling with the proof-reading of the text."

This book will give an overview of insect ovaries, showing the diversities and the common traits in egg growth processes. The idea to write this book developed while looking at the flood of information which appeared in the early 1980s on early pattern formation in Drosophila embryos. At this time a significant breakthrough was made in studies of this little fly, combining molecular biological methods with classical and molecular genetics. The answers to questions about early pattern formation raised new questions about the architecture of ovaries and the growth of eggs within these ovaries. However, by concentrating only on Drosophila it is not possible to form an adequate picture of what is going on in insect ovaries, since the enormous diversity found among insects is not considered sufficiently. Almost forgotten, but the first to study the architecture of ovaries, was Alexander Brandt writing in 1878 in aber das Ei und seine Bildungsstaette (On the egg and its organ of development). More than 100 years later, a series of ten books or more would be required to survey all the serious informa tion we have today on insect oogenesis. Thus, this book is a personal selection and personal view on the theme, and the authors must be excused by all those scientists whose papers could not be included. The book briefly describes the ectodemes, i. e."

This book is an identification guide to the arthropods (insects, mites, ticks, etc.) which affect the health of people and their domestic animals. It is designed for practical use on the laboratory bench and in the field. Coverage of organisms is world-wide, allowing the student to become familiar with and identify to genus level, all types of medical and veterinary pests. The book's easy to use format makes it useful also to the non-specialist and as a supplement to the conventional textbooks on medical and veterinary entomology.

This book has a wider approach not strictly focused on crop production compared to other books that are strictly oriented towards bees, but has a generalist approach to pollination biology. It also highlights relationships between introduced and wild pollinators and consequences of such introductions on communities of wild pollinating insects. The chapters on biochemical basis of plant-pollination interaction, pollination energetics, climate change and pollinators and pollinators as bioindicators of ecosystem functioning provide a base for future insights into pollination biology. The role of honeybees and wild bees on crop pollination, value of bee pollination, planned honeybee pollination, non-bee pollinators, safety of pollinators, pollination in cages, pollination for hybrid seed production, the problem of diseases, genetically modified plants and bees, the role of bees in improving food security and livelihoods, capacity building and awareness for pollinators are also discussed.

Grauzone and Completion of Meiosis During Drosophila Oogenesis describes the work behind a major, award winning discovery: the establishment of a new pathway that specifically regulates the female meiosis, a process essential for sexual reproduction. This book chronicles a new gene mapping method and the cloning and documentation of several types of genes that were proven to have significant influence on the cell cycle. It is of interest to anyone doing work with fruit flies, both graduate students and principal investigators.

Losses of forests and their insect inhabitants are a major global conservation concern, spanning tropical and temperate forest regions throughout the world. This broad overview of Australian forest insect conservation draws on studies from many places to demonstrate the diversity and vulnerability of forest insects and how their conservation may be pursued through combinations of increased understanding, forest protection and silvicultural management in both natural and plantation forests. The relatively recent history of severe human disturbance to Australian forests ensures that reasonably natural forest patches remain and serve as 'models' for many forest categories. They are also refuges for many forest biota extirpated from the wider landscapes as forests are lost, and merit strenuous protection from further changes, and wider efforts to promote connectivity between otherwise isolated remnant patches. In parallel, the recent attention to improving forest insect conservation in harmony with insect pest management continues to benefit from perspectives generated from better-documented faunas elsewhere. Lessons from the northern hemisphere, in particular, have led to revelations of the ecological importance and vulnerability of many insect taxa in forests, together with clear evidence that 'conservation can work' in concert with wider forest uses. A brief outline of the variety of Australian tropical and temperate forests and woodlands, and of the multitude of endemic and, often, highly localised insects that depend on them highlights needs for conservation (both of single focal species and wider forest-dependent radiations and assemblages). The ways in which insects contribute to sustained ecological integrity of these complex ecosystems provide numerous opportunities for practical conservation.

In this book, contributors focus on the reproductive behaviour of insects. The topics they discuss range from mate finding, host selection and oviposition behaviour to the competition for resources and the behaviour of feeding larvae. The papers reflect both a diversity of approach and differing degrees of conviction as to the relevance of evolutionary theory to the study of insect population. The aim of the book is to encourage the reader to think more critically about the evolution of behaviour, and in particular about the importance of small differences in individual behaviour within natural populations.

Entomological research benefits from a great diversity of technical approaches - from the molecular to the descriptive - and these are applied to an even greater diversity of insect species. As a consequence, common themes and trends in entomological research can often be overlooked as each researcher focuses on his or her own area of interest. The purpose of this volume is to bring together diverse areas of research under one common theme. The book is divisible into four conceptual areas: the structural biology of the midgut; digestion and transport; the insect midgut as a target for control strategies; and the idgut as an environment for other organisms. Each chapter is written by scientists active in the reviewed research area and a truly international team of contributors has been chosen by the editors. Biology of the Insect Midgut will be of immense use to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, and researchers in entomology, physiology and pest control.

This book considers research on insect acoustic behaviour from two divergent approaches to insect behaviour. The first approach involves the current rediscovery of sexual selection and involves the testing of many hypotheses concerning the relative importance of different behavioural strategies to the fitness of the individual. The other approach considers the role of specific neurones within the insect's auditory system. This book aims to integrate these aspects of evolutionary biology and neurophysiology. The book discusses the role of sound in the life and life-cycle of insects and includes a discussion of mate recognition, chorusing, calling and listening.

The book provides a fascinating overview about current and sophisticated developments in applied entomology that are powered by molecular biology and that can be summarized under a novel term: insect biotechnology. By analogy with the application of powerful molecular biological tools in medicine (red biotechnology), plant protection (green biotechnology) and industrial processing (white biotechnology), insect biotechnology (yellow biotechnology) provides novel tools and strategies for human welfare and nutrition. Insect Biotechnology has emerged as a prospering discipline with considerable economic potential, and encompasses the use of insect model organisms and insect-derived molecules in medical research as well as in modern plant protection measures.

This book was conceived to mark the Silver Jubilee of the British Butterfly Conservation Society. Interest in the conservation of butterflies has increased so rapidly that it is difficult to relate to the situation 25 years ago. Butterflies were on the decline in Britain, Europe and elsewhere but we lacked data on the extent of the decline and the underlying reasons, leaving us unable to implement effective conservation measures. An early recognition of the plight of British butterflies and moths led to the foundation of the society by a small group of conservationists in 1968. Today the society has over 10000 members, owns a number of reserves and sponsors research, conservation and monitoring activities at the local and national level. As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations an international symposium was held at Keele University in September 1993 entitled 'Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies'. This symposium clearly showed how much important work has been done in recent years and also gave me the impression that the subject had reached a watershed. This was not because the decline of butterflies has stopped or even slowed down, far from it, the threat to our butterflies continues to increase from habitat destruction and intensification of land use. The watershed is in our understanding of the relationship between butterflies and their habitat.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of chitin biology and chitin metabolism related enzymes. Chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer in nature after to cellulose, is a linear biopolymer composed of -1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), and an essential component in the exoskeletons of insects, mites, ticks and crustaceans, the egg shells of parasitic nematodes, and fungal cell walls. Although some chitin-containing organisms are a threat to human health, food safety and agricultural production, non-chitin containing organisms like humans, mammals and plants have an innate immune response to these hazardous organisms. The book provides researchers and students with information on the recent research advances concerning the biology of chitin-containing organisms as well as cross-talks between chitin-containing and non-chitin-containing organisms. Highlighting chitin remodeling enzymes and inhibitors, it also offers drug developers essential insights into designing specific molecules for the control of hazardous chitin-containing organisms.

Insect Chemical Ecology provides a comprehensive view of how natural selection acts upon interacting organisms and how particular physical and biological properties of chemical compounds act as constraints upon which natural selection may act. Individual chapters raise specific questions as to the nature of these interactions. The first part contains reviews on antagonistic and mutualistic chemical interactions, the raw materials' of chemical evolution, the economics of offensive and defensive chemicals, and neurobiology. The second part discusses particular problems such as the evolution of resistance, insect pollination, learning, pheromones, sequestration of semiochemicals, the role of microorganisms, sex attractants, the evolution of host races and biotypes, and the role of semiochemicals and the evolution of sociality of insects. The last chapter discusses the role of chemical-based pest management programs in an ecological and evolutionary framework.

Arthropods are invertebrates that constitute over 90% of the animal kingdom, and their bio-ecology is closely linked with global functioning and survival. Arthropods play an important role in maintaining the health of ecosystems, provide livelihoods and nutrition to human communities, and are important indicators of environmental change. Yet the population trends of several arthropods species show them to be in decline. Arthropods constitute a dominant group with 1.2 million species influencing earth's biodiversity. Among arthropods, insects are predominant, with ca. 1 million species and having evolved some 350 million years ago. Arthropods are closely associated with living and non-living entities alike, making the ecosystem services they provide crucially important. In order to be effective, plans for the conservation of arthropods and ecosystems should include a mixture of strategies like protecting key habitats and genomic studies to formulate relevant policies for in situ and ex situ conservation. This two-volume book focuses on capturing the essentials of arthropod inventories, biology, and conservation. Further, it seeks to identify the mechanisms by which arthropod populations can be sustained in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and by means of which certain problematic species be managed without producing harmful environmental side-effects. This edited compilation includes chapters contributed by over 80 biologists on a wide range of topics embracing the diversity, distribution, utility and conservation of arthropods and select groups of insect taxa. More importantly, it describes in detail the mechanisms of sustaining arthropod ecosystems, services and populations. It addresses the contribution of modern biological tools such as molecular and genetic techniques regulating gene expression, as well as conventional, indigenous practices in arthropod conservation. The contributors reiterate the importance of documenting and understanding the biology of arthropods from a holistic perspective before addressing conservation issues at large. This book offers a valuable resource for all zoologists, entomologists, ecologists, conservation biologists, policy makers, teachers and students interested in the conservation of biological resources.

Acarology is on the move For a long time the development of Acarology as a field of biological science has been dominated by systematists and applied scientists. In the last 15 years, however, Acari have been increasingly recognized as highly suitable for the testing of theories in ecological and evolutionary sciences. The growing interest from evolutionary and molecular biologists and from population and community ecologists in mites and ticks has a strong impetus on the field of Acarology, and has already led to significant progress. This book contains many chapters that illustrate the recent progress in - mainly evolutionary and ecological aspects of - Acarology.

A brief look at a complex and intriguing topic, this book takes a look at bees from a variety of perspectives, from the physiology of individual bees of different species to analysis of their complex behaviors and social interactions. Written by an eminent entomologist and apiculturist.

Biocontrol is among the most promising methods for a safe, environmentally benign and sustainable crop protection. Microbial pesticides offer a great potential, and it is anticipated that they will become a substantial part of the use of all crop protection products. Their development and commercialization, however, has been difficult and with many failures. For the first time, a rational and structured roadmap has been designed for the development and commercialization of microbial pest control products, based on entomopathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes, for the control of arthropod pests. The emphasis lies on strain screening, product development, up to successful commercialization, from a bio-industry's viewpoint. The building blocks of the entire process are identified. The selection criteria for a microbial pest control agent are defined as well as critical parameters for the development of the product. Implementation of the product into an integrated pest management programme is pivotal for a substantial market uptake. Three phases are distinguished for successful adoption in the market: an appropriate application strategy, an optimal implementation strategy, and an effective adoption strategy. Key success and failure factors are identified. Registration is a major hurdle for biopesticides. Salient registration issues are treated and useful information presented. The road to a successful microbial pest control product is designed. Diagrams illustrate the stepwise approach of the entire process. A future perspective on the biopesticide market is presented with limiting and promotional factors and trends. The significant drivers for success are food safety concern, new research and technology, changes in the regulatory climate, and the occurrence of new invasive pests. This systematic roadmap with a strong focus on economics and market introduction will assist academic researchers and industrial developers of bi

This volume contains the Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP-4), held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from 21 to 26 July 2002. TTP-4 continues an important tradition established in 1992 at the first Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, and developed subsequently at the Kruger National Park, South Africa (1995) and the High Tatra Mountains, Slovakia (1999). The 31 papers published in this special issue are divided between six sessions, with a keynote address as an introduction. The first session, which deals with biosystematics, genomics and proteomics of ticks, contains the most recent world list of valid tick names. The papers deal with a broad range of tick-host-pathogen interactions, including remote sensing and mapping of ticks and tick-borne pathogens as well as practical aspects of tick control. It is recommended reading for anyone working on ticks and tick-borne pathogens, which are of increasing medical and veterinary importance worldwide.

In 1974 when I published my book, Biological Mechanism of Attachment, not many pages were required to report on the attachment devices of insect cuticles. As in most fields of research, our knowledge on this specific subject has simply exploded. Dr. Stanislav N. Gorb now describes the present day level of our knowledge, to which he has personally contributed so much, and a research team working on biological microtribology has gradually developed, also. With modern methods of measurement it is possible to enter the structure - function relationship much more deeply, even down to a molecular level, which was not possible two and a half decades ago. It is a well known fact that, in biology, the more sophisticated the measuring method, the greater the achievement of biological fundamental research, and its resulting evidence. Our knowledge remains at a certain level until new methods once more permit a forward leap. Biological knowledge develops in the form of a stepped curve rather than linear, as reflected in the studies carried out on the attachment devices of insect cuticles.

As editor of this volume I am not going to emphasize the economic im portance of the Bruchids of pulses, nor how necessary it is to know the conditions of infestation of crops in order to achieve an efficient protection; both points are testified by F.A.O.'s sponsorship, as well as of the International Organization for Biological Control. On the other hand I would like to stress the scientific interest of the study of 'domestic' bruchids. It raises questions which require that present basic entomological knowledge be extended. I am not going to review all questions raised but I will emphasize those I am most aware of. Some bruchid species have been able to colonize habitats differing totally; some differing in their latitude, and thus their basic periodicities; others differing in their degree of complexity (stocks of seeds): What are the respective roles played by polymorphism and plasticity in that exceptional capacity? What differences are there between the populations living on wild plants in dispersal areas and those living in stocks? What are the alterations brought about by the drastic selection pressures in populations having later colonized habitats ecologically similar to the original habitats? What factors determine the degree of specificity of trophic relationships, and the possibilities of extension of the niche? What influences are exerted by the other elements of the original bio cenoses upon the behavioural evolution of these species? Such are a few fundamental problems that can be tackled directly through"

This text provides readers with an in-depth exploration of how biological control functions and how it can be safely employed to solve pest problems and enhance nature conservation. It covers the principles behind biological control techniques and their implementation, and incorporates practical examples from the biological control of a variety of pests. It contains detailed chapters on conserving natural enemies through environmental management, importation of new natural enemies for control of pests, augmentation of natural enemies through rearing and release, and the development and application of pathogens and biopesticides.