Biological Control of Tropical Weeds Using Arthropods

Description

Weeds are a major constraint to agricultural production, particularly in the developing world. Cost-efficient biological control is a self-sustaining way to reduce this problem, and produces fewer non-target effects than chemical methods, which can cause serious damage to the environment. This book covers the origin, distribution, and ecology of twenty model invasive weed species, which occur in habitats from tropical to temperate to aquatic. Sustainable biological control of each weed using one or more arthropods is discussed. The aim is to provide ecological management models for use across the tropical world, and to assist in the assessment of potential risks to native and economic plants. This is a valuable resource for scientists and policy makers concerned with the biological control of invasive tropical plants.

Rangaswamy Muniappan, professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Guam, has specialised in biological control and integrated pest management research in the tropics for over 35 years. He has been serving as the Chairman of the Global Working Group on Chromolaena of the International Organization for Biological Control since 1992, and is currently responsible for managing the IPM CRSP and coordinating with USAID and project partner institutions in the United States and developing countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. He has published over 200 research and extension articles. Gadi V. P. Reddy is an entomologist at the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Guam. His research interests include developing sex pheromones, host volatiles, and other attractants for use in integrated pest management, behavioural and chemical ecology of multitrophic interactions, and biological control of invasive pests and weeds. He has over 65 publications in journals and has contributed to numerous radio shows and newspaper articles on pest management. Anantanarayanan Raman is a Senior Lecturer of Ecological Agriculture at the Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia. His research interests include arthropod-plant interactions, weed biological control, ecology of soil organisms and soil health, and agroforestry.

Review of the hardback: 'This is an impressive and comprehensive treatment of the subject presented in a readable and accessible style ... should be of considerable use to practitioners in the field and equally to policy makers ... It is likely that this treatise will remain the most relevant and seminal treatment of the subject for some good time ahead.' Biologist Review of the hardback: '... good source of information supported by 1700 references, supplemented with figures, and it is well indexed. The text is a valuable resource for scientists and policy makers ...' Journal of Agricultural Science Review of the hardback: '... a useful resource for professionals working on biological control of invasive tropical plants as it provides guidelines for techniques and approaches that can serve the introduction of biological weed management in developing countries. The insights into insect and weed ecology provided by the various case studies will be of interest to both entomologists and weed scientists.' Experimental Agriculture