Migration is a key process in the population dynamics of many insects, including some of the most damaging pests. Multidisciplinary research over the last three decades has produced a series of important new insights. This book reviews current understanding of the ecological, behavioural, physiological and genetic bases of insect migration. The first part describes migration systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and America, with an emphasis on the role of regional weather and climate. The second part considers how insects are adapted for migration; it covers aerodynamics and energetics, the integration of migration in insect life cycles, environmental and genetic regulation of migratory potential and the evolutionary implications of habitat heterogeneity and variability. The third part addresses the application of this knowledge to operational pest forecasting. The book concludes with a comprehensive overview of insect migration, written from an evolutionary perspective.

Migration is a key process in the population dynamics of many insects, including some of the most damaging pests. Multidisciplinary research into the importance of migration, in recent decades, has produced many new insights. This book reviews current understanding of the ecological, behavioural, physiological and genetic bases of insect migration. The first part describes migration systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and America, with an emphasis on the role of regional weather and climate. The second part considers insects adaptation to migration; it covers: aerodynamics and energetics; the integration of migration in insect life cycles; environmental and genetic regulation of migratory potential; and the evolutionary implications of habitat heterogeneity and variability. The book then addresses the application of this knowledge to operational pest forecasting.