Claire Detrain, Jean-Louis Deneubourg and Jacques Pasteels Studies on insects have been pioneering in major fields of modern biology. In the 1970 s, research on pheromonal communication in insects gave birth to the dis cipline of chemical ecology and provided a scientific frame to extend this approach to other animal groups. In the 1980 s, the theory of kin selection, which was initially formulated by Hamilton to explain the rise of eusociality in insects, exploded into a field of research on its own and found applications in the under standing of community structures including vertebrate ones. In the same manner, recent studies, which decipher the collective behaviour of insect societies, might be now setting the stage for the elucidation of information processing in animals. Classically, problem solving is assumed to rely on the knowledge of a central unit which must take decisions and collect all pertinent information. However, an alternative method is extensively used in nature: problems can be collectively solved through the behaviour of individuals, which interact with each other and with the environment. The management of information, which is a major issue of animal behaviour, is interesting to study in a social life context, as it raises addi tional questions about conflict-cooperation trade-oft's. Insect societies have proven particularly open to experimental analysis: one can easily assemble or disassemble them and place them in controllable situations in the laboratory."

The arthropods contain more species than any other animal group, but the evolutionary pathways which led to their current diversity are still an issue of controversy. Arthropod Relationships provides an overview of our current understanding, responding to the new data arising from sequencing DNA, the discovery of new Cambrian fossils as direct evidence of early arthropod history, and developmental genetics. These new areas of research have stimulated a reconsideration of classical morphology and embryology. Arthropod Relationships is the first synthesis of the current debate to emerge: not since the volume edited by Gupta was published in 1979 has the arthropod phylogeny debate been, considered in this depth and breadth. Leaders in the various branches of arthropod biology have contributed to this volume. Chapters focus progressively from the general issues to the specific problems involving particular groups, and thence to a consideration of embryology and genetics. This wide range of disciplines is drawn on to approach an understanding of arthropod relationships, and to provide the most timely account of arthropod phylogeny. This book should be read by evolutionary biologists, palaeontologists, developmental geneticists and invertebrate zoologists. It will have a special interest for post-graduate students working in these fields.

Insect Learning is a comprehensive review of a new field. Until recently, insects were viewed as rigidly programmed automatons; now, however, it is recognized that they can learn and that their behavior is plastic. This fundamental change in viewpoint is causing a re-examination of all aspects of the relationship between insects and their environment. This change in perspective is occurring at a time of heightened interest in brain function in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Insects potentially play a major role in this expanding area. Because of their experimental tractability and genetic diversity, they provide unique opportunities for testing hypotheses on the ecology and evolution of learning. As organisms of economic importance, they are perennial objects of research by both basic and applied scientists. Insect Learning covers both social and non-social insects from multiple perspectives. The book covers mechanisms; syntheses of work on physiology, behavior, and ecology; and micro- and macroevolution. The concluding section discusses future directions for research, including applications to pest management.

TheInternationalConferencesonEphemeroptera(Mayflies)andSymposiaonPlecoptera (Stoneflies)areheldeverythreeyears,indifferentpartsoftheworld. Theseeventsallow specialistsfromdifferentcountriestointeractandpresenttheresultsoftheirlatest investigations. TheIXInternationalConferenceonEphemeropteraandXillInternationalSymposiumon Plecoptera,wereheldAugust16-21,1998,andAugust20-23,1998,respectively,inTaffdel Valle,Tucuman,Argentina,withajointsymposiumonAugust20,1998. Theseeventswerehos- tedbythe"InstitutoSuperiordeEntomologfa"FacultaddeCienciasNaturales,fromtheNational UniversityofTucuman,andattendedbyapproximately80specialistsfrom25countries. Atpresent,whenthebiodiversitycrisisandthepressuresonfresh-waterenvironmentsand theirinhabitantsareworsethaneverbefore,theinformation,discussionsandguidelinescoming outofeventsofthiskindarebecomingmoreandmoreimportant. The54papersincludedinthisvolumeareamongthosepresentedduringthemeetings, andacceptedafterpeerreviewbyinternationalspecialists. Thepapersaregroupedinfivelooselydefinedsections(exceptthefirstthatcorresponds toapaneldiscussion),althoughseveralofthepaperscouldexceedthesubjectboundaries wheretheyarelocated. Iwouldliketothankthemanyindividualsandinstitutionsthathelpedwithboththis bookandtheorganizationoftheevents,namely: Themembersoftheorganizingcommittee:H. R. Fernandez,M. G. Cuezzo, F. Romero, C. Molineriand C. Nieto. AlsocollaboratingwereM. Ceraolo,1. Chocobar,M. Guzmande Tome,S. Moro,M. Orce,V. Manzoandmanyvolunteersandstudentstoonumeroustodetail here. Withouttheiruntiringefforts,theeventssimplywouldnothavebeenpossible. Thefollowingpersonsactedasmanuscriptreviewers:J. Alba-Tercedor,J. V. Arnekleiv, R. Baumann,J. E. Brittain, 1. C. Campbell,J. M. Elouard,J. F. Flannagan,R. W. Flowers, C. Froehlich,E. Gaino,M. T. Gillies,P. Goloboff,P. M. Grant,M. D. Hubbard, Y. Isobe,J. Jackson,N. N. Kapoor,P. Landolt, W. P. McCafferty, 1. McLellan,R. Nelson, W. L. Peters,G. Pritchard,M. Sartori,!. Sivec,1. Stanford, K. W. Stewart,D. Studemann,B. Stark,P. Suter,B. Sweeney,S. Szczytko,andP. Zwick. Theseinstitutionsprovidedtheirinstitutionaland/oreconomicsupport:Facultadde CienciasNaturaleseInstitutoMiguelLillo,UniversidadNacionaldeTucuman;ConsejoNa- cionaldeInvestigacionesCientificasyTecnicas(CONICET);ConsejodeInvestigaciones, UniversidadNacionaldeTucuman(CIUNT);Fundaci6nAntorchas,Fundaci6nMiguelLillo; Direcci6ndeTurismo,MunicipalidaddeTaffdelValle. vii viii Preface ThePermanentCommitteeonEphemeropteraConferencesprovidedpartialfinancial supportforfellowshipsforstudentsfromtheCzechRepublic,ChinaandSlovenia;andthe NorthAmericanBenthologicalSocietyforstudentsfromBoliviaandVenezuela. Thecompletionofthisbookwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheinvaluableeffort ofGustavoSanchez,whomadethedigitalworkoftheoriginalsandthecoverdesign, C. Molineriand C. Nietowhopatientlyreviewedthefinalcopies,andvaluableadvicefrom MaryAnnMcCarraandRobertWheeler. ThecoverillustrationsweredonebyS. RoigJu- nen!(Ephemeroptera)and A. Dupuy(Plecoptera). EduardoDominguez ConvenorandEditor August,2000 CONTENTS STATUS OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF EPHEMEROPTERA IN THE WORLD IntroductiontothePanelDiscussion . 1. Alba-Tercedor StatusoftheKnowledgeofEphemeropterainNortheastAsiaandGuidelinesfor FutureResearch...3 y. 1. Bae TheCurrentStatusofEphemeropteraBiologyinAustralia...7 I. C. Campbell KnowledgeoftheAfrican-MalagasyMayflies ...13 J. M. Elouard TheGentleQuest: 200YearsinSearchofNorthAmericanMayflies...21 W. P. McCafferty TheStatusoftheTaxonomyoftheMayfly(Ephemeroptera)FaunaofSouthAmerica. . 37 M. L. Pescador,M. D. Hubbard,andM. delC. Zuniga TheEphemeropteraofNewZealandandNewCaledonia...43 W. L. Peters CurrentKnowledgeofMayflyResearchinEurope(Ephemeroptera)...47 M. Sartori StatusoftheSystematicKnowledgeandPrioritiesinEphemeropteraStudies: theOrientalRegion '...53 T. Soldan ECOLOGYANDBEHA~OUR LifeCycleandAnnualProductionof Caenissp(Ephemeroptera,Caenidae) inLakeEscondido(Bariloche,Argentina)...67 D. A. AnonSuarezandR. 1. Albarino ix x Contents EffectsofRotenoneTreatmentonMayflyDriftandStandingStocks inTwoNorwegianRivers...77 1. V. Arnekleiv,D. Dolmen,and L. Rj(jnning LongitudinalDistributionoftheMayfly(Ephemeroptera)Communities attheChocancharavaRiverBasin(Cordoba,Argentina)...89 M. delC. Corigliano,C. M. Gualdoni, A. M. Oberto,andG. B. Raffaini EmergenceofEphemeropterafromtheAssiniboineRiver,Canada...97 1. F. Flannagan,1. Alba-Tercedor,R. G. Lowen,andD. G. Cobb MayfliesasFood 107 P. M. Grant SeasonalVariationofEphemeropterainFourStreamsofGuatopoNational Park,Venezuela...:...125 V. Maldonado,B. Perez,andC. Cressa AbundanceandAltitudinalDistributionofEphemeropterainan Andean-PatagoneanRiverSystem(Argentina)...

This volume is an outgrowth of a Symposium entitled "Evolution of Escape in Space and Time" held at the XV International Congress of Entomology in Washington, D. C., USA in August, 1976. The choice of topic was prompted by recent advances in evolutionary ecology and the apparent suitability of insect migration and dia pause as appropriate material for evolutionary studies. In the event, that choice seems amply justified as I hope a perusal of these papers will show. These Sympos ium papers hardly cover the topic of the evolution of escape mechanisms exhaustively, and I am sure everyone will have his favorite lacuna. Some of the more obvious ones are indicated by Professor Southwood in his Concluding Remarks at the end of the book. The purpose of the Symposium, however, was not complete coverage, but rather to indicate the potential inherent in insect migration and diapause for the study of evolutionary problems. In that I think we have succeeded reasonably well. These papers are expanded and in some cases somewhat altered versions of the papers delivered in Washington. This has allowed greater coverage of the topics in question. I suggested a format of a general overview of a topic emphasizing the author's own research con tributions. In general the papers follow this outline although emphases vary. Two of the authors, Dr. Rainey and Dr. Lumme, were unable to attend the Symposium. Dr. Rainey's paper was read by Mr. Frank Walsh, but Dr."

This book introduces recent progress in the study of species diversity and community structures in terrestrial organisms conducted by three groups at Kyoto University. First, it explains species diversity and the functioning of fungi in Asian regions as outlined by metagenomic approaches using next-generation sequencing technology. The advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies accelerate the speed of species inventorying, especially for microorganisms. Second, the study of complex interactions between herbivorous insects and plants in the community and ecosystem contexts is presented. Recent studies in community and ecosystem genetics shed light on these complex interactions with novel approaches incorporating genetic perspectives including genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in plant defenses against herbivores. Finally, recent studies on speciation processes in insects are described, processes that are related to the evolution of particular life history strategies. Included is an examination of two hypotheses that may be important in understanding diversification of insect species in heterogeneous environments in space and time. This book is a valuable resource especially for ecologists who are interested in species diversity and community structure.

First published in 1928, this bibliography lists approximately 3,800 titles on the subject of sponges, spanning the period 1551-1913. Gualtherus Vosmaer was a prolific thinker in this field, and this book is the product of 29 years of intensive research. This near-exhaustive bibliography places little-known works alongside more established papers, a range which made it, on its publication, unique. As such, it is a brilliant resource for discovering lesser-known texts on this extensive subject, and a fascinating compilation of historical writing on Porifera, both living and fossilised. As its editor Bidder remarks, 'the biology of 100 years ago affords most delightful and charming reading' and here, in one volume, is a list of papers and books which afford exactly this pleasure. Vosmaer's bibliography gives the reader the opportunity to explore both past theories and discoveries, and to understand the scientific study of these fascinating sea creatures in its historical context.

Throughout the 1950s, methods of experimental analysis led to a great increase in knowledge of the machinery of insect flight. In this 1957 monograph, Dr Pringle brings together the results of his investigations of the mechanics of wing motion, the structure and physiology of flight muscle, aerodynamics, sense organs and nervous co-ordination, and shows how a common structural plan has been perfected during the course of evolution to produce the variety of form and function found in the different insect orders. Of particular interest is the special type of muscle found only in the higher insects and responsible for the very high wing-beat frequencies of some flies and bees. Many different lines of approach have contributed to the understanding of insect flight, and the subject is of great interest to entomologists, comparative physiologists and biological engineers.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the ecology of freshwater bivalves and gastropods worldwide. It deals with the ecology of these species in its broadest sense, including diet, habitat and reproductive biology, emphasising in particular the tremendous diversity of these freshwater invertebrates. Following on from these introductory themes, the author develops a life history model that unifies them, and serves as a basis for reviews of their population and community ecology, including treatments of competition, predation, parasitism and biogeography. Extensively referenced and providing a synthesis of work from the nineteenth century onwards, this book includes original analyses that seek to unify previous work into a coherent whole. It will appeal primarily to professional ecologists and evolutionary biologists, as well as to parasitologists.

Courses on the invertebrates have two principal aims: (1) to introduce students to the diversity of animal life and (2) to make them aware that organisms are marvellously integrated systems with evolutionary pasts and ecological presents. This text is concerned exclusively with the second aim and assumes that the reader will already know something about the diversity and classification of invertebrates. Concepts of whole-organism function, metabolism and adaptation form the core of the subject-matter and this is also considered in an ecological setting. Hence, the approach is multi-disciplinary, drawing from principles normally restricted to comparative morphology and physiology ,ecology and evolutionary biology. Invertebrate courses, as with all others in a science curriculum, also have another aim - to make students aware of the general methods of science. And these I take to be associated with the so-called hypothetico deductive programme. Here, therefore, I make a conscious effort to formulate simple, some might say naive, hypotheses and to confront them with quantitative data from the real world. There are, for example, as many graphs in the book as illustrations of animals. My aim, though, has not been to test out the principles of Darwinism, but rather to sharpen our focus on physiological adaptations, given the assumption that Darwinism is approximately correct. Whether or not I succeed remains for the reader to decide.

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.

This 1999 edition of The Neural Crest contains comprehensive information about the neural crest, a structure unique to the vertebrate embryo, which has only a transient existence in early embryonic life. The ontogeny of the neural crest embodies the most important issues in developmental biology, as the neural crest is considered to have played a crucial role in evolution of the vertebrate phylum. Data that analyse neural crest ontogeny in murine and zebrafish embryos have been included in this revision. This revised edition also takes advantage of recent advances in our understanding of markers of neural crest cell subpopulations, and a full chapter is now devoted to cell lineage analysis. The major research breakthrough since the first edition has been the introduction of molecular biology to neural crest research, enabling an elucidation of many molecular mechanisms of neural crest development. This book is essential reading for students and researchers in developmental biology, cell biology, and neuroscience.

Due to the attractiveness of butterflies, and their usefulness as model systems for biological questions, there has been a considerable amount of material written on butterfly biology, largely in Europe. This book synthesizes all relevant and recent knowledge in the field, which is a must for those making use of this taxonomic group as a model system. It is divided into five major parts which deal with habitat use, population ecology and genetics, evolutionary ecology, distribution and phylogeny, and global change and conservation. There are growing numbers of scientific projects and networks in Europe in which the use of butterflies as tools and targets for conservation is central, and application of knowledge is closely related to European cultural landscapes. However, the chapters can also be applied to a wide geographic scope. Written by an international team of experts, this timely book is suitable for students, researchers and enthusiasts.

This book is a collection of papers given by invited speakers at a Symposium on 'Feedback and Motor Control', held at the University of Glasgow from July 10th to 13th 1984, which was attended by over 200 scientists from 20 countries. The Symposium was the Fourth International Symposium organised by the Scottish Electrophysiological Society (SES), and on this occasion the SES joined forces with the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB), so that the Symposium was held dur ing the annual Summer Meeting of the SEB. A policy of the SES since its formation in 1970 has been to promote dialogue between scientists working on invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems by hol

Cyanobacteria have existed for 3.5 billion years, yet they are still the most important photosynthetic organisms on the planet for cycling carbon and nitrogen. The ecosystems where they have key roles range from the warmer oceans to many Antarctic sites. They also include dense nuisance growths in nutrient-rich lakes and nitrogen-fixers which aid the fertility of rice-fields and many soils, especially the biological soil crusts of arid regions. Molecular biology has in recent years provided major advances in our understanding of cyanobacterial ecology. Perhaps for more than any other group of organisms, it is possible to see how the ecology, physiology, biochemistry, ultrastructure and molecular biology interact. This all helps to deal with practical problems such as the control of nuisance blooms and the use of cyanobacterial inocula to manage semi-desert soils. Large-scale culture of several organisms, especially "Spirulina" ("Arthrospira"), for health food and specialist products is increasingly being expanded for a much wider range of uses. In view of their probable contribution to past oil deposits, much attention is currently focused on their potential as a source of biofuel.

Please visit http: //extras.springer.com/to view Extra Materials belonging to this volume.

Thisbook complements thehighly successful "Ecology of Cyanobacteria" and integrates the discoveries of the past twelve years with the older literature.

"

Writers on arthropod water relationships range from bio physicists and biochemists to population ecologists-a fact that gives cause to wonder whether the field is already too heterogeneous to be written about in a single book by a single author. I have partly avoided the problem by concentrating largely on physiological mechanisms and by omitting most aspects of behavioural regulation and most aspects of heat balance and body temperature, except when these impinge directly on water balance. Even within this limited field there has been a lot of work during the past twenty years, as a result of which some problems have been solved (or at least more clearly defined), and many others have been opened up. On the whole there has been a welcome change to a more rigorous experimental approach and it is now possible for water balance people to state their problems in physiological terms. Good progress has been made towards understanding the mechanisms involved in nearly all avenues of water uptake and loss, although problems indeed remain. The cuticle has yielded part of its secrets to electron micrography, but ex ploration by means oflipid biochemistry among other techniques is necessary for a real understanding of cuticle permeability."

Egg Parasitoids in Agroecosystems with emphasis on Trichogramma was conceived to help in the promotion of biological control through egg parasitoids by providing both basic and applied information. The book has a series of chapters dedicated to the understanding of egg parasitoid taxonomy, development, nutrition and reproduction, host recognition and utilization, and their distribution and host associations. There are also several chapters focusing on the mass production and commercialization of egg parasitoids for biological control, addressing important issues such as parasitoid quality control, the risk assessment of egg parasitoids to non-target species, the use of egg parasitoids in integrated pest management programs and the impact of GMO on these natural enemies. Chapters provide an in depth analysis of the literature available, are richly illustrated, and propose future trends.

The function of insect blood cells has long puzzled scientists. This much-needed volume, first published in 1979, attempts to explain the forms and functions of insect hemocytes, creating a solid basis from which work in the field may proceed. Insect Hemocytes had its origins in a symposium held at the XV International Congress of Entomology (1976). It is a coherent presentation whose contributors were some of the most eminent specialists in the field.

Social insects are amongst the most successful species. This study concentrates on the production ecology of ants and termites. Ants and termites are highly socialised and their groupings in their most developed form enable them to function as large organisms comparable with the larger mammals in their influence in ecosystems. In spite of their social mode of life, quantitative investigations are not easy and this volume emphasises the importance of developing reliable techniques. The account deals critically with production, food and feeding habits, respiration and energy flow, nutrient dynamics and the role of ants and termites in ecosystems. The body of information is not only an invaluable summary and synthesis of work already done, but presents a concise statement of what now needs to be done and what means should be employed. The volume is for social insect ecologists and entomologists and for all who teach ecology, because it contains valuable data and ideas for the general ecologist.

In the comparative physiology of photoreception by the Protista and the invertebrates two aspects are emphasized: (1) the diversity of visual processes in these groups and (2) their bearing upon general mechanisms of photoreception. Invertebrates have evolved a far greater variety of adaptations than vertebrates modifications aiding survival in the remarkably different biotopes they occupy. The number of species in itself suggests this multiformity; each of them has peculiarities of its own, in morphology as well as in physiology and behavior. But these special adaptations are variations on a few great themes. Although the catalogue of invertebrate species is immense, the literature concerning them nearly rivals it in extent-even if one considers only that fraction dealing with visual physiology. Taxonomy proceeds by grouping the species, categorizing them in genera, families, orders, and progressively larger units. Similarly, comparative physiology aims at an analogous, more or less compre hensive, classification. This Part A of Volume VII/6, like Part B that follows it, emphasizes the broad questions that concern groups larger than the individual species; in some cases these questions have general applicability. The middle course between approaches that are too specialized and those that are too general is often elusive, but here we attempt to follow it. The vast number of special adaptations-probably, as we have said, as large as the number of species-is beyond the range even of a handbook."

Insects are the most diverse and abundant animals that share our world, and conservation initiatives are increasingly needed and being implemented globally, to safe guard the wealth of individual species. This book provides sufficient background information, illustrated by examples from many parts of the world, to enable more confident and efficient progress towards the conservation of these ecologically indispensable animals. Writing for graduate students, academic researchers and professionals, Tim New describes the major ingredients for insect species management and conservation, and how these may be integrated into effective practical management and recovery plans.

Most neurobiological research is performed on vertebrates, and it is only natural that most texts describing neuroanatomical methods refer almost exclusively to this Phylum. Nevertheless, in recent years insects have been studied intensively and are becoming even more popular in some areas of research. They have advantages over vertebrates with respect to studying genetics of neuronal development and with respect to studying many aspects of integration by uniquely identifiable nerve cells. Insect central nervous system is characterized by its compactness and the rather large number of nerve cells in a structure so small. But despite their size, parts of the insect eNS bear structural comparisons with parts of vertebrate eNS. This applies particularly to the organization of the thoracic ganglia (and spinal cord), to the insect and vertebrate visual sys tems and, possibly, to parts of the olfactory neuropils. The neurons that make up these areas in insects are often large enough to be impaled by microelectrodes and can be injected with dyes. Added to advantages of using a small eNS, into which the sensory periphery is precisely mapped, are the many aspects of insect behaviour whose components can be quan titized and which may find both structural and functional correlates within clearly defined regions of neuropil. Together, these various features make the insect eNS a rewarding object for study. This volume is the first of two that describe both classic and recent methods for neuroanatomical research on insect eNS."

The literature is still one of our biggest frustrations to-day. There is, in one sense, too much of it, and in another not enough - for there are insufficient and inadequate published guidelines through this jungle. Last year two excellent books for students of ecological chemistry were published, one in France and one in England. The concordance of the references was a mere overall 3% rising to 7% in the chapters on pheromones. Even in the computer age, the channel remains a formidable barrier to the rapid exchange of biological information. At the present time we are in urgent need of compilations similar to John Feltwell's "The Large White Butterfly"; since the literature has become virtually unmanageable. This insect is now a demonstration object in the sixth form schoolroom; an experimental "rabbit" in the University laboratory; a test animal in virus and bacterial research projects; a tool for the study of flight mechanisms, migration, plant biochemistry, hormones, genetics, allergies, pigments, mimicry, etc. , etc. John Feltwell has, by this massive compilation, rendered us a great service - in fact he has given us a present of 4,000 hours of library time spent in 50 different libraries in seven countries. In the process he has collected 8000 references to the Large White. Of these, 4000 have been selected, and we are given a brief indication of their contents.

The fifth and last Volume of this IPMD series reviews, in a multi-disciplinary approach, recent achievements in crop protection and integrated management of arthropod pests. The volume is organized in a first Section covering IPM in citrus productions, a Second one dealing with advacements in the integratioon of management technologies and a last Section covering mites and their biological control agents. As for the previous volumes, we attempted to provide an informative coverage for a broad range of agricultural systems and situations. The chapters are mainly organized and centered on crops, with a particular emphasis on citrus. This is one of the main crops in which biological control and IPM approaches were tested successfully, and the experience gained herein may indeed result helpful for IMP efforts deployed worldwide on other crops and/or cropping systems. Chapters in Section 2 review the integration of insect and disease management options in pecan crops, the application of remote sensing technologies, the status of knowledge about plant defense compounds and their potentials. For IPM of invasive species, an update is provided on the experience gained on the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) in Egypt. Long-term technological solutions for IPM in forests and park areas through aerial treatments with Bt spores concludes this Section. Finally, in Section 3, updated reviews about biological control agents of mites are provided.

Earthworms, which belong to the order Oligochaeta, comprise roughly 3,000 species grouped into five families. Earthworms have been called 'ecosystem engineers'; much like human engineers, they change the structure of their environments. Earthworms are very versatile and are found in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems. They play an important role in forest and agricultural ecosystems. This Soil Biology volume describes the various facets of earthworms, such as their role in soil improvement, soil structure, and the biocontrol of soil-borne plant fungal diseases. Reviews discuss earthworms' innate immune system, molecular markers to address various issues of earthworm ecology, earthworm population dynamics, and the influences of organic farming systems and tillage. Further topics include the characteristics of vermicompost, relationships between soil earthworms and enzymes, the role of spermathecae, copulatory behavior, and adjustment of the donated sperm volume.