Highly Recommended in CHOICE, Jan 2020, Vol 57, 5 Insects are key components of life on our planet, and their presence is essential for maintaining balanced terrestrial ecosystems. Without insects humans would struggle to survive, and on a world scale food production would be severely compromised. Many plants and animals depend directly or indirectly on insects for their very survival, and this is particularly so in the case of insectivorous birds and other such creatures. The beneficial role of insects is often overlooked or misunderstood, and in farming circles their very presence on crops is often seen to be unwelcome. In reality, however, many insects are genuinely beneficial, as in the case of parasitic and predacious species. The use of chemical pesticides to control crop pests is becoming more tightly regulated and environmentally undesirable, and low-input farming, in which natural enemies of pests are encouraged to survive or increase, is becoming far more prevalent. Accordingly, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Crop Management (ICM) strategies are increasingly being developed, advocated and adopted. Features: Highlights information on many groups of insects and mites that act as natural enemies or biological control agents of phytophagous insects and mites, including plant pests. Profusely illustrated with high-quality colour photographs. Focuses mainly on insects and mites as natural enemies of plant pests, including parasitic and predacious species that have been accidentally or deliberately introduced in classical biological control programmes. Reviews the role of phytophagous European insects and mites in controlling or managing European plants that have become invasive weeds in other parts of the world, notably North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Pests of Fruit Crops: A Colour Handbook, Second Edition provides an up-to-date illustrated account of the various pests of fruit crops throughout Europe, many of which (or their close relatives) are also present in non-European countries. In fact, several pose problems on fruit crops worldwide. This authoritative book focuses on insect and mite pests affecting fruit, hop and nut crops in both temperate and subtropical climates. Pome fruits, stone fruits, cane fruits, strawberries, bush fruits, hops, grapevines, citrus fruits, nuts, figs and olives all receive attention. For ease of reference, this new edition has been significantly rearranged so that, under genera, species of pests are now listed alphabetically, and nomenclature has been updated. The pests, most of which are illustrated, are described, and details are given of their life histories, distribution and status. Damage caused is also indicated. The work is profusely illustrated with over 1,150 superb colour photographs, and is an essential and invaluable source of reference for both professional and lay readers-including extension workers, consultants, scientists, students, fruit growers and private gardeners. To help readers locate information on pests of interest, alternative names for genera and species, and frequently used colloquial names are cross-referenced in the pest index.

Ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers have always been extremely popular and there is large demand-whether in gardens or parks-for alpines, bedding plants, cacti, cut flowers, house plants and pot plants, as well as herbaceous plants, ornamental grasses, shrubs and trees. The first edition of this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated book was extremely successful and it has now been fully revised and updated. The second edition contains over 60 new pests and almost 90 new color photographs. The book opens with a review of the main features of insects, mites and other major pest groups. The principles of pest control of ornamental plants are discussed, followed by sections on the various pests. Each major order and family is considered in turn, with details of their status, host range, world distribution, diagnostic features and biology. Descriptions of the characteristic damage caused are also given. Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers provides a unique source of permanent reference for all involved in the recognition, biology and control of the pests of ornamental crops, including professionals, scientists and students in agriculture, horticulture and entomology, and amateur gardeners.

Highly Recommended in CHOICE, Jan 2020, Vol 57, 5 Insects are key components of life on our planet, and their presence is essential for maintaining balanced terrestrial ecosystems. Without insects humans would struggle to survive, and on a world scale food production would be severely compromised. Many plants and animals depend directly or indirectly on insects for their very survival, and this is particularly so in the case of insectivorous birds and other such creatures. The beneficial role of insects is often overlooked or misunderstood, and in farming circles their very presence on crops is often seen to be unwelcome. In reality, however, many insects are genuinely beneficial, as in the case of parasitic and predacious species. The use of chemical pesticides to control crop pests is becoming more tightly regulated and environmentally undesirable, and low-input farming, in which natural enemies of pests are encouraged to survive or increase, is becoming far more prevalent. Accordingly, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Crop Management (ICM) strategies are increasingly being developed, advocated and adopted. Features: Highlights information on many groups of insects and mites that act as natural enemies or biological control agents of phytophagous insects and mites, including plant pests. Profusely illustrated with high-quality colour photographs. Focuses mainly on insects and mites as natural enemies of plant pests, including parasitic and predacious species that have been accidentally or deliberately introduced in classical biological control programmes. Reviews the role of phytophagous European insects and mites in controlling or managing European plants that have become invasive weeds in other parts of the world, notably North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers have always been extremely popular and there is large demand-whether in gardens or parks-for alpines, bedding plants, cacti, cut flowers, house plants and pot plants, as well as herbaceous plants, ornamental grasses, shrubs and trees. The first edition of this comprehensive and beautifully illustrated book was extremely successful and it has now been fully revised and updated. The second edition contains over 60 new pests and almost 90 new color photographs. The book opens with a review of the main features of insects, mites and other major pest groups. The principles of pest control of ornamental plants are discussed, followed by sections on the various pests. Each major order and family is considered in turn, with details of their status, host range, world distribution, diagnostic features and biology. Descriptions of the characteristic damage caused are also given. Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers provides a unique source of permanent reference for all involved in the recognition, biology and control of the pests of ornamental crops, including professionals, scientists and students in agriculture, horticulture and entomology, and amateur gardeners.

Pests of Fruit Crops: A Colour Handbook, Second Edition provides an up-to-date illustrated account of the various pests of fruit crops throughout Europe, many of which (or their close relatives) are also present in non-European countries. In fact, several pose problems on fruit crops worldwide. This authoritative book focuses on insect and mite pests affecting fruit, hop and nut crops in both temperate and subtropical climates. Pome fruits, stone fruits, cane fruits, strawberries, bush fruits, hops, grapevines, citrus fruits, nuts, figs and olives all receive attention.
For ease of reference, this new edition has been significantly rearranged so that, under genera, species of pests are now listed alphabetically, and nomenclature has been updated. The pests, most of which are illustrated, are described, and details are given of their life histories, distribution and status. Damage caused is also indicated. The work is profusely illustrated with over 1,150 superb colour photographs, and is an essential and invaluable source of reference for both professional and lay readers including extension workers, consultants, scientists, students, fruit growers and private gardeners. To help readers locate information on pests of interest, alternative names for genera and species, and frequently used colloquial names are cross-referenced in the pest index."