Beneficial Insects

Biological control is a key process in sustainable agriculture, pesticide reduction, and in transformation of agriculture. To design agroecosystems that support natural enemies of pests, comprehensive information about their biology, including information on what kinds of plant-based food resources, alternate hosts, and shelter or nesting sites must be provided. This book reviews parasitic and predacious insects as natural enemies of phytophagous insects and mites. It also provides information on phytophagous insects as natural enemies of invasive weeds. The book focuses on aspects of beneficial insects as biological control agents and how humans benefit directly and indirectly from them.

Table of Contents:
PART 1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Beneficial insects — an overview PART 2 INSECTS AS NATURAL ENEMIES OF PLANT PESTS Chapter 3 True bugs Chapter 4 Lacewings and allied insects Chapter 5 Beetles Chapter 6 True flies Chapter 7 Wasps and allied insects Chapter 8 Miscellaneous predators PART 3 INSECTS AS NATURAL ENEMIES OF WEEDS Chapter 9 Beneficial phytophagous insects and mites Appendix I List of parasitic and predacious insects and mites etc. cited in Part 2 Appendix II List of insects and mites cited in Part 2 as prey of parasites, parasitoids or predators Appendix III List of phytophagous insects and mites associated with weeds Appendix IV List of plants mentioned in the text References Botanical index General index Zoological index

About the Author :
Dr David V. Alford began his entomological career at the world famous Rothamsted Experimental Station. He later joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food in Cambridge, where he was eventually appointed Regional Entomologist. He has wide experience of insects and mites associated with agricultural and horticultural crops, both at home and abroad, and has published many scientific papers and profusely illustrated reference books. In 2007 he was awarded the British Crop Protection Council’s gold medal for services to crop protection in the UK, and in 2008 received the prestigious Anton de Bary Medal from the Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft e.V. in recognition of his work on general and applied entomology.