Their natural enemies largely determine the population size and dynamic behavior of many plant-eating insects. Any reduction in enemy number can result in an insect outbreak. Applied biological control is thus one strategy for restoring functional biodiversity in many agroecosystems. Predators and Parasitoids addresses the role of natural enemies in pest control as an integrated pest management concept. It examines how Trichogramma, the extensively studied natural enemy of insect pests, has been used as a pest management tool, and it describes important aspects such as the inducible defense mechanisms of plants and the effects that plant diversity can have on herbivores and natural enemies. Specific chapters address recent advances in biological control: the effects of multiparasitism on parasitization; synergism between insect pathogens and entomophagous insects; and the use of exotic insects for weed control. With contributions from leading worldwide experts, Predators and Parasitoids is ideal for graduate students, research scientists and professionals in biological pest control, agriculture, entomology and ecology.

In recent years, the development of biological pest control strategies has focused on the chemical profiles of insect-plant interactions. Plants exhibit an extensive range of defensive strategies, which include insect avoidance, deterrence and antibiosis. The need to overcome these vegetative defence responses has driven the evolution of an array of detoxifying mechanisms, which have become the hallmark of the phytophagous insects' chemical ecology.
This volume presents the advances made on phytochemcial biopesticides, covering behavioural, chemical, biochemical and molecular levels of the field. The role of Phytochemicals in integrated pest management is also addressed, whilst discussing the problems and prospects of biopesticides for commercial exploitation. The volume provides a comprehensive overview for graduate students, research scientists and professionals in chemical ecology, insect-plant interactions, phytochemistry, chemistry and biochemistry of insects, and insect toxicology.

Development and Commercialization of Biopesticides: Costs and Benefits provides a uniquely comprehensive view of the commercial production of biopesticides, from research to application, featuring case studies in various developed and developing countries of the world. The book offers guidance for future strategies to researchers, along with considerations for the industry's economic concerns, i.e., costs and benefits compared to conventional pesticides, future perspectives for application strategies, bioavailability and environmental safety, and impacts on intellectual property issues during commercialization. Finally, the book covers why the development of this industry must be strategic, comprehensive and forward-looking in order to be an accepted, safe and sustainable. There is no doubt that biopesticides are now in large-scale use, and a variety of novel techniques have been used to improve or modify existing biopesticides, which will further accelerate their development.

Population size and the dynamic behaviour of many plant-eating insects is largely determined by the levels of their natural enemies. Any reduction in enemy number can result in an insect outbreak. Applied biological control can therefore be considered as a strategy to restore functional biodiversity in many agroecosystems. Predators and Parasitoids addresses the role of natural enemies in pest control as an integrated pest management concept. It examines how Trichogramma, the extensively studied natural enemy of insect pests, has been used as a pest management tool and describes important aspects such as the inducible defense mechanisms of plants and the effects that plant diversity can have on herbivores and natural enemies. Specific chapters address recent advances in biological control: the effects of multiparasitism on parasitization; synergism between insect pathogens and entomophagous insects; and the use of exotic insects for weed control.
With contributions from leading worldwide experts, Predators and Parasitoids reveals the latest research in this field. Ideal for graduate students, research scientists and professionals in biological pest control, agriculture, entomology and ecology.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203302567

Biotechnological research has provided key developments in pest control agents, focusing on pathogens of insect pests as formulated biological pesticides. Emphasis has been placed on bacteria and viruses as they are well understood and easily manipulated.
This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the advances made in the use of bacteria, fungi and viruses, focusing on behavioural, chemical and molecular aspects. The authors discuss the potential of nematode-based biochemical agents and bioherbicids and explore the role of microbial biopesticides in integrated pest management and their prospects for commercil exploitation.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203303075

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to manage pests through biological, cultural, physical and chemical means in order to minimize economic and environmental injury caused by such pests. Any comprehensive IPM program requires an understanding of the ecological relationships between crops, pests, natural enemies and the environment. This book presents a series of review chapters on ecologically-based IPM. Topics covered range from the ecological effects of chemical control practices to the ecology of predator-prey and parasitoid-host systems.

Nano-Biopesticides Today and Future Perspectives is the first single-volume resource to examine the practical development, implementation and implications of combining the environmentally aware use of biopesticides with the potential power of nanotechnology. While biopesticides have been utilized for years, researchers have only recently begun exploring delivery methods that utilize nanotechnology to increase efficacy while limiting the negative impacts traditionally seen through the use of pest control means. Written by a panel of global experts, the book provides a foundation on nano-biopesticide development paths, plant health and nutrition, formulation and means of delivery. Researchers in academic and commercial settings will value this foundational reference of insights within the biopesticide realm.

IPM Systems need to be developed for agriculture to be economically and environmentally strong, in production, storage and food processing. Although the concept and philosophy of integrated pest management have been largely accepted for some time, its implementation is complex and faces numerous potential problems. If IPM is to enjoy widespread approval and adoption, it must be clearly defined and economically and socially acceptable. The topics covered in this book include a range of topics, such as risk-benefit analysis, transgenic crops in IPM and consumer response to IPM.

Naturally occurring toxins are among the most complicated and lethal in existence. Plant species, microorganisms and marine flora and fauna produce hundreds of toxic compounds for defence and to promote their chances of survival, and these can be isolated and appropriated for our own use. Many of these toxins have yet to be thoroughly described, despite being studied for years. Focusing on the natural toxins that are purely toxic to insects, this book contains over 500 chemical structures. It discusses the concepts and mechanisms involved in toxicity, bioassay procedures for evaluation, structure-activity relationships, and the potential for future commercialization of these compounds. A comprehensive review of the subject, this book forms an important source of information for researchers and students of crop protection, pest control, phytochemistry and those dealing in insect-plant interactions.

The chemicals from plant sources, generally termed as phytochemicals, play an important role in acceptance or rejection of the plant by the pests as they could be distasteful or toxic on one hand or on the other hand specialist herbivores have the capability to feed on many such chemicals, as they are able to process these natural products in a manner that is beneficial to them. In the wake of increasing environmental degradation due to burgeoning synthetic chemicals, there has been a process going on to rediscover the usefulness of plants and herbs and a continued effort for more than 2 decades has been to study the green products for cures for several ailments and pest management. In fact, according to Indian Medicinal Plants: A Sectoral Study, the global trade for medicinal plants amounts to about US $ 60 billion and the world demand continues to grow at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. Although many such plants are known in literature, neem has been one of trees with mani-fold virtues. Indian neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, which is a large evergreen tree, is an outstanding example among plants that has been subject matter of numerous scientific studies concerning its utilization in medicine, industry and agriculture. So far neem preparations have been evaluated against more than 500 species of insects and more than 400 hundred are reported to be susceptible at different concentrations.

The chemicals from plant sources, generally termed as phytochemicals, play an important role in acceptance or rejection of the plant by the pests as they could be distasteful or toxic on one hand or on the other hand specialist herbivores have the capability to feed on many such chemicals, as they are able to process these natural products in a manner that is beneficial to them. In the wake of increasing environmental degradation due to burgeoning synthetic chemicals, there has been a process going on to rediscover the usefulness of plants and herbs and a continued effort for more than 2 decades has been to study the green products for cures for several ailments and pest management. In fact, according to Indian Medicinal Plants: A Sectoral Study, the global trade for medicinal plants amounts to about US $ 60 billion and the world demand continues to grow at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. Although many such plants are known in literature, neem has been one of trees with mani-fold virtues. Indian neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, which is a large evergreen tree, is an outstanding example among plants that has been subject matter of numerous scientific studies concerning its utilization in medicine, industry and agriculture. So far neem preparations have been evaluated against more than 500 species of insects and more than 400 hundred are reported to be susceptible at different concentrations.

This volume presents the advances made on phytochemcial biopesticides, covering behavioural, chemical, biochemical and molecular levels of the field.

Their natural enemies largely determine the population size and behavior of many plant-eating insects. Any reduction in enemy number can result in an insect outbreak. Applied biological control is one way to restore biodiversity in many agroecosystems. Predators and Parasitoids addresses the role of natural enemies in pest control. It examines how Trichogramma, the natural enemy of insect pests, has been used as a pest management tool, and it describes plants' defense mechanisms and the effect of plant diversity on herbivores and natural enemies. This volume is ideal for graduate students, research scientists and professionals in biological pest control, agriculture, entomology and ecology.