Advances in Insect Chemical Ecology

Description

Chemical signals mediate all aspects of insects' lives and their ecological interactions. The discipline of chemical ecology seeks to unravel these interactions by identifying and defining the chemicals involved, and documenting how perception of these chemical mediators modifies behaviour and ultimately reproductive success. Chapters in this 2004 volume consider how plants use chemicals to defend themselves from insect herbivores; the complexity of floral odors that mediate insect pollination; tritrophic interactions of plants, herbivores, and parasitoids and the chemical cues that parasitoids use to find their herbivore hosts; the semiochemically mediated behaviours of mites; pheromone communication in spiders and cockroaches; the ecological dependency of tiger moths on the chemistry of their host-plants; and the selective forces that shape the pheromone communication channel of moths. The volume presents descriptions of the chemicals involved, the effects of semiochemically mediated interactions on reproductive success, and the evolutionary pathways that have shaped the chemical ecology of arthropods.

Review of the hardback: 'This volume presents an excellent collection of reviews that should be useful to those working within and outside this study area.' Bulletin of the World Health Organization Review of the hardback: 'The wide scope, systematic approach and technical language all make this an excellent reference text.' Biologist Review of the hardback: '... an interesting book, summarizing not only a great amount of detailed knowledge, but addressing also general evolutionary issues such as the role of pheromones for speciation processes. ... provides a fascinating complexity of plant-insect and insect-insect interactions and communication that enthrals even the experienced reader and thus encourages every effort to preserve the future of these interactions and their further evolution. ... provides fascinating topics for the generally interested reader and student, as well as detailed accounts for professionals working in specific areas. Thus, I recommend this book to all persons aiming to 'look behind the curtain' of plant-insect interactions as well as interactions between insects - these readers will be impressed.' Journal of Insect Conservation ' ... informative and detailed ...' American Entomologist