Thrips have recently surged to prominence as insect pests of field, plantation and glasshouse crops in many countries, associated with increased international trade in fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers and plant propagation material. They can cause direct feeding damage to the aerial parts of plants, resulting in yield loss and spoilage, and some are vectors of destructive plant viruses. Their minute size and secretive habits make them particularly difficult to detect and control. This book, containing contributions from several world authorities from Europe, the USA and Asia, is the most comprehensive treatise on thrips as crop pests ever to be published. It brings together a vast amount of modern work set against a wealth of background knowledge, covering basic biology, ecology, applied science and pest control. The result is a book indispensable for agricultural advisers and growers concerned with thrips pests, and a unique reference source and stimulus for research entomologists studying these intriguing insects.

This book addresses these topical issues and is based on a Discussion Meeting held at the Royal Society, London, in April 1998. Contributors include scientists from leading research groups in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. The papers have also been published as an issue of the journal Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences, published by the Royal Society. Topics covered include molecular genetics, mechanisms, ecological genetics and management. There is also discussion of the genetically delivered toxicant derived from the insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis. The book is essential reading for agricultural, medical and veterinary entomologists concerned with pest management.

This book is an essential companion volume to "Quarantine Pests for Europe, 2nd Edition" and "Illustrations of Quarantine Pests for Europe." The three titles are the result of collaboration between CABI and EPPO in the compilation of data on the pests of phytosanitary significance for the European and Mediterranean region. This present publication provides updated geographic distributions of over 350 pests for which data sheets and illustrations are already available. A map is provided for each pest showing the current world distribution graphically. This is supported by a list of the countries and provinces in which the pest has been recorded with a coded indication of its current status. Coverage extends to insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasitic plants. The pests concerned are either entirely absent from the European and Mediterranean region (A1 list) or have a restricted distribution (A2 list). Text within the book is provided in both English and French.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture has had a fundamental impact on agricultural policy worldwide. The new WTO agreements will cover agriculture,sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and trade in intellectual property rights. This book addresses the interface between the law of international agricultural trade, the emerging legal and economic order for agricultural trade under the auspices of the WTO, and its impact on agricultural policy reform both in the European Union and the USA. With contributions from leading authorities in the appropriate areas.

By providing multiple economic goods and ecosystem services, Latin American forests play a key role in the environmental, social and economic welfare of the region's countries. From the tropical forests of Central America to the Mediterranean and temperate vegetation of the southern cone, these forests face a myriad of phytosanitary problems that negatively impact on both conservation efforts and forest industry. This book brings together the perspectives of several Latin American researchers on pest and disease management. Each chapter provides modern views of the status and management alternatives to problems as serious as the impact of introduced exotic insects and diseases on Pinus and Eucalyptus plantations throughout the continent, and the emergence of novel insect outbreaks in tropical and temperate native forests associated with global warming. It is a valuable guide for researchers and practitioners working on forest health in Latin America and around the world.

Insect and other pests cause major economic damage on fruit crops in the tropics. However, some insects are beneficial and have a role in pollinating flowers and thus enabling fruit set. This book, written by authors from around the world, reviews these injurious and beneficial organisms and how they might be controlled to enhance fruit production and quality.

In this fascinating book, Graham Matthews takes the reader through the history of the development and use of chemicals for control of pests, weeds, and vectors of disease. Prior to 1900 only a few chemicals had been employed as pesticides but in the early 1940s, as the Second World War raged, the insecticide DDT and the herbicide 2-4-D were developed. These changed everything. Since then, farmers have been using a growing list of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides to protect their crops. Their use has undoubtedly led to significant gains in agricultural production and reduction in disease transmission, but also to major problems: health concerns for both users of pesticides and the general public, the emergence of resistance in pest populations, and environmental problems. The book examines the development of legislation designed to control and restrict the use of pesticides, the emergence of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the use of biological control agents as part of policy to protect the environment and encourage the sustainable use of pesticides. Finally, the use of new technologies in pest control are discussed including the use of genetic modification, targeted pesticide application and use of drones, alongside basic requirements for IPM such as crop rotations, close seasons and adoption of plant varieties with resistance to pests and diseases.

Nematodes that are parasites of insects are no longer a laboratory curiosity. They have begun to be accepted as environmentally benign alternatives to the use of chemical insecticides, for the control of insect pests. Nematode worms are now applied as biological control agents against insect pests of numerous horticultural and agricultural crops.This book provides a comprehensive review of entomopathogenic nematology. It begins by reviewing fundamental biology and setting a taxonomic foundation for nematodes and their bacterial symbionts. Several chapters are devoted to functional processes involved in parasitism and to nematode ecology. Later chapters describe technological advances and control methodologies.

This book covers the statistical concepts of sampling in agricultural pest management. These can be summarized as how to obtain sample data from the field and how to use the data in decision-making. Options may include introducing natural enemies, spraying with pesticide, or adopting a wait-and-see approach. Some prior knowledge of pests and how they interact with crops is required of the reader, but only minimal mathematical background is assumed. Worked examples using the mathematical software program Mathcad are also included.

Nematodes are major pests of a number of temperate crops and can cause significant economic losses to farmers. This book provides a comprehensive account of such parasites, with chapters focusing on nematode pests of the main crops of importance in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Written by leading authorities from the USA, UK, Canada, France, Netherlands, Australia, Bolivia and New Zealand, this book is a definitive reference work for plant pathologists in general, and nematologists in particular.

Nanobiotechnology Applications in Plant Protection: Volume 2 continues the important and timely discussion of nanotechnology applications in plant protection and pathology, filling a gap in the literature for nano applications in crop protection. Nanobiopesticides and nanobioformulations are examined in detail and presented as powerful alternatives for eco-friendly management of plant pathogens and nematodes. Leading scholars discuss the applications of nanobiomaterials as antimicrobials, plant growth enhancers and plant nutrition management, as well as nanodiagnostic tools in phytopathology and magnetic and supramagnetic nanostructure applications for plant protection. This second volume includes exciting new content on the roles of biologically synthesized nanoparticles in seed germination and zinc-based nanostructures in protecting against toxigenic fungi. Also included is new research in phytotoxicity, nano-scale fertilizers and nanomaterial applications in nematology and discussions on Botyris grey mold and nanobiocontrol. This book also explores the potential effects on the environment, ecosystems and consumers and addresses the implications of intellectual property for nanobiopesticides. Further discussed are nanotoxicity effects on the plant ecosystem and nano-applications for the detection, degradation and removal of pesticides.

This volume provides background theory and practical protocols for bioassays of bacteria, viruses, fungi, microsporidia and nematodes that can be used as biological control agents against insect pests of agricultural and medical importance. In addition, experimental design and statistics, computational modeling for bioassay analysis, and relevant legislation are described. With contributions from internationally recognized scientists from their respective fields, this book will be of particular value to researchers both experienced and inexperienced in this area.

The book describes the natural history of myxoma virus in American rabbits and the history of its introduction into European rabbits at length. The changes in rabbit and virus over the last forty years provide the classical example of coevolution of a virus and its vertebrate host and a paradigmatic model for the understanding of an emerging infectious disease. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus has been spreading in Australia for only three years, but in some areas has been very effective. Written by leading world experts in animal virology and the history of medicine.

With the recent shift of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to organic agriculture, the employment of microbes that perform significant beneficial functions for plants has been highlighted. This book presents timely discussion and coverage on the use of microbial formulations, which range from powdered or charcoal-based to solution and secondary metabolite-based bioformulations. Bioformulation development of biofertilizers and biopesticides coupled with the advantages of nanobiotechnology propose significant applications in the agricultural section including nanobiosensors, nanoherbicides, and smart transport systems for the regulated release of agrochemical. Moreover, the formulation of secondary metabolites against individual phytopathogens could be used irrespective of geographical positions with higher disease incidences. The prospective advantages and uses of nanobiotechnology generate tremendous interest, as it could augment production of agricultural produce while being cost-effective both energetically and economically. This bioformulation approach is incomparable to existing technology, as the bioformulation would explicitly target the particular pathogen without harming the natural microbiome of the ecosystem. Nanobiotechnology in Bioformulations covers the constraints associated with large-scale development and commercialization of bioinoculant formations. Furthermore, exclusive emphasis is be placed on next-generation efficient bioinoculants having secondary metabolite formulations with longer shelf life and advanced competence against several phytopathogens. Valuable chapters deal with bioformulation strategies that use divergent groups of the microbiome and include detailed diagrammatic and pictorial representation. This book will be highly beneficial for both experts and novices in the fields of microbial bioformulation, nanotechnology, and nano-microbiotechnology. It discusses the prevailing status and applications available for microbial researchers and scientists, agronomists, students, environmentalists, agriculturists, and agribusiness professionals, as well as to anyone devoted to sustaining the ecosystem.

This book presents a broad range of technologies for sustainable agrochemistry, e.g. semiochemicals for pest management, nanotechnology for release of eco-friendly agrochemicals, and green chemistry principles for agriculture. It provides a concise introduction to sustainable agrochemistry for a professional audience, and highlights the main scientific and technological approaches that can be applied to modern agrochemistry. It also discusses various available technologies for reducing the negative impacts of agrochemicals on the environment and human health.

The two closely related species of Potato Cyst-Nematodes (PCN), Globodera rostochiensis (Woll) and Globodera pallida Stone have a worldwide distribution. Both are internationally recognized plant quarantine organisms of actual or potential major economic importance wherever potatoes are grown or traded. They occur in large soil masses and also adhere to potato tubers as microscopic cysts, which represent a complex of morphologically identical, but behaviourally different virulence groups, or pathotypes. This presents major problems for their detection, identification and management. This book is a synthesis of current practical knowledge and underpinning scientific research on PCN globally. It is arranged in five sections, comprising nineteen chapters by leading practitioners and research nematologists, in which the biology, detection, identification and control options (including plant resistance) for PCN are examined. In addition, its worldwide status is considered, including South America, where PCN co-evolved with its potato host. Essential information is provided for professionals and advanced students of plant nematology and crop protection.

Entomology as a branch of biological science has undergone rapid expansion and development in recent decades. There have been major advances in the technologies associated with pest management and the ecological studies that underpin much of this work. Greater emphasis is now placed on topics such as modelling and biochemical techniques, with new approaches to the study of insect behavior and insecticide efficacy making inroads into traditional approaches. This book aims to integrate the new approaches and technologies with traditional and well-proven methods. It provides a critical analysis and evaluation of methods available, through reference to general principles, but emphasis is also placed on providing detailed descriptions of methods and their application. Written by leading authorities from the UK, USA and Australia, the book is aimed at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in entomology and pest management.

Written by a globally prominent entomologist, Agricultural Acarology: Introduction to Integrated Mite Management provides tools for developing integrated mite management programs for agriculture, including management of plant-feeding mites, mites attacking bees and livestock, and stored products. Emphasizing the biology, ecology, behavior, and diverse methods of controlling mites, this book provides an overview of the management of agriculturally important mites using all available Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools, including biological control, cultural practices, host-plant resistance, and pesticides. Agricultural Acarology prepares agricultural managers to identify, manage, and contribute to the field of integrated mite management. An accompanying downloadable resource contains numerous color photographs of mites and the damage they cause, and PDFs of key publications.

The Acari, comprising mites and ticks, form one of the largest and biologically most diverse groups of the Arachnida. They are worldwide in distribution and rival the insects in the extent to which they have successfully colonized terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Some are significant crop pests, while ticks are parasites on a wide range of vertebrate hosts. This diversity of modes of life is reflected in their morphology and life-history strategies.
This book provideds a detailed introduction to the Acari, concentrating on their functional morphology, but also covering their classification and economic importance. It will serve as a text and reference for acarologists and advanced-level students taking courses in general entomology (which traditionally include acarology), invertebrate zoology, and agricultural, medical and veterinary 'entomology.'

This book presents biosystematic information on fruit flies of the world that are of economic importance, and includes host data for about 250 species, as well as illustrated keys to adults, distribution data and recent references for over 100 of these species. In addition there is extensive
coverage of larval stages, with the inclusion of keys separating the final instar larvae of over 60 species and detailed new descriptions of 34 of these species. As a whole, the book is a comprehensive identification guide to fruit fly pests across many temperate regions and will be invaluable to
entomologists and pest control specialists.

This book documents and illustrates major developments in the use of nematodes for the biological control of insects and slugs. It covers the use of three main types of nematodes: entomopathogenic nematodes, entomophilic nematodes and slug-parasitic nematodes. The biology, commercial production, formulation and quality control, application technology, strategy and safety of each of these three nematode groups is discussed. The book also examines the application of nematodes in different cropping systems, and the efficacy of nematodes against specific pests. The potential of predatory nematodes to control plant-parasitic nematodes and mycophagous nematodes to control fungal pathogens is also reviewed.

The Aphelenchida, Longidoridae and Trichodoridae are groups of nematodes that include almost 1,000 species from some forty genera. A number are of known agricultural importance, both in their own right as parasites of fungi or higher plants and/or as vectors of certain plant viruses. While monographs exist on the systematics and taxonomy of a number of nematode groups, no recent volume covers the three groups included here. This book aims to provide a practical, working guide to the taxa of the Aphelenchida, Longidoridae and Trichodoridae, in such a form as to facilitate usage by both specialist taxonomists and general nematologists. Keys to generic level are included, each genus being diagnosed, illustrated and provided with a comprehensive list of nominal species and, where appropriate, synonyms. General notes on the bionomics and distribution are appended and some 22 species, mostly those of economic importance, are individually described in greater detail. In addition, a general introduction to each of the three systematic sections includes an historical review, basic morphology and a summary of the bionomics. With a comprehensive bibliography, the book is a unique guide to these groups of plant parasitic and free-living nematodes.

Pesticides continue to be a major means of controlling pests and diseases of crops and have made a major contribution to increasing the world's food production. Despite the problem of developing pest and disease resistance to certain pesticides, and public concern about their indiscriminate use and side-effects, they are likely to remain the basis of integrated pest management programmes. However, as this book seeks to demonstrate, there is scope to improve both the safety and efficiency of crop protection methods. The emphasis of the book is on methods of assessment and on application techniques to particular categories of crops. Written by leading authorities from Europe and North America, the book provides detailed reviews of relevant topics. It is essential reading for all researchers, advanced students and professionals concerned with crop protection, whether from the disciplines of entomology, plant pathology, weed science or agricultural engineering.

This book is an up-to-date and comprehensive reference covering pest management in organic farming in major crops of the world. General introductory chapters explore the management of crops to prevent pest outbreaks, plant protection tools in organic farming, and natural enemies and pest control. The remaining chapters are crop-based and discuss geographic distribution, economic importance and key pests. For each pest the fundamental aspects of its bio-ecology and the various methods of control are presented. Understanding of the scientific content is facilitated with practical advice, tables and diagrams, helping users to apply the theories and recommendations. Handbook of Pest Management in Organic Farming: * Consists of rational approaches and advice. * Is authored by a team of international specialists in pest control. * Represents the only available comprehensive review of insect pest management in organic systems. This is an essential resource for researchers and extension workers in crop protection, integrated pest management and biocontrol, and organic farming systems.

In nature, the roots of most plants are infected by symbiotic fungi to form mycorrhiza which play a central role in the capture of nutrients from the soil. Most of our knowledge of the biology of the mycorrhizal symbiosis has been derived from studies carried out under controlled conditions in the laboratory or glasshouse. There is an increasing awareness of the need to extend these studies to the more natural situations in which the symbiosis evolved and in which it normally functions. This volume brings together a series of papers which place major emphasis upon mycorrhizal function in nature. They consist of edited and revised contributions to the Third European Symposium on Mycorrhizas, held at the University of Sheffield, 19-23 August 1991.