Natural Enemies: An Introduction to Biological Control

Description

This second edition of Natural Enemies will give students, professionals, and anyone wishing to learn the basics of biological control a fully updated and thorough introduction. The book discusses the huge diversity of organisms used in the control of pests, weeds and plant pathogens, and compares the many different strategies referred to as 'biological control': the introduction of exotic natural enemies, application of predators, parasitoids, and microorganisms as biopesticides, and manipulation of the environment to enhance natural enemy populations. The authors present the ecological concepts which form the bases of biological control and discuss recent changes to make biological control safe for the environment. Case studies are included throughout, providing in-depth examples of the use of different organisms and strategies in a variety of ecosystems. A new chapter covers the current challenges; the impact of climate change, the problem of invasive species, and how biological control can aid sustainability.

Ann E. Hajek is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at Cornell University, New York. Her career has focused on biological control, with research ranging from developing biopesticides to investigating why epizootics of insect diseases occur. The International Organization for Biological Control, Nearctic Regional Section, presented her with their Distinguished Scientist Award in 2011. Jorgen Eilenberg is a Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, where he leads a research team studying insect pathogens and biological control. He was President of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology 2012-2014.

'This second edition of Natural Enemies has been skillfully updated to cover advances in biological control since 2004 which is sure to reinstate it as the standard introduction to the subject for undergraduates and other interested readers. Written by leading international experts, the text is both authoritative and easy to read, and is richly illustrated with fascinating examples of biological control applications from around the world. The expertise of the authors is readily apparent throughout the book and the breadth of coverage of all aspects of biological control is excellent. I highly recommend this text to anyone seeking to develop a course or workshop on the subject due to its comprehensive coverage, accessibility without need for specialist knowledge, and engaging style. It is reassuring to know that a new generation of biological control practitioners will be inspired by this well informed and enthusiastic introduction to the subject.' Nicholas J. Mills, University of California, Berkeley 'The second edition retains all that was positive from the first edition - including wonderful graphs, illustrations and topic boxes - and adds a number of exciting updates. The section on conservation biological control is expanded, which reflects growth in this area over the last two decades. I also appreciated the updates to the last section of the book, which focuses on the evolving science of biological control. Here Hajek and Eilenberg provide a thoughtful and up-to-date discussion of the risks of biological control along with a nice sampling of risk assessment models. Also - the last chapter looks ahead at issues that the discipline will need to come to terms with including climate change, sustainability and the continued unintentional movement of species across the globe.' George Heimpel, University of Minnesota