Ecological and Economic Entomology: A Global Synthesis

Ecological and Economic Entomology is a comprehensive advanced text  covering all aspects of the role of insects in natural ecosystems and  their impacts on human activity.

The book is divided into two  sections. The first section begins with an outline of the structure,  classification and importance of insects, followed by the geographical  aspects of plant distribution and the complex defenses plants marshal  against herbivorous insects. Insect pests affecting plant roots, stem,  leaf, and reproductive systems are covered in a comprehensive review.  This section also covers insects that are important in medical and  veterinary science, paying particular attention to those that transmit  pathogens. The section concludes with the beneficial aspects of insects,  especially their use in biological control, but also as soil formers  and their importance in forensic science.

Autecology (or  single-species ecology) and its application to pest management is the  focus of the second section of the book. Firstly, some general aspects  of autecology are examined, including species abundance, competition and  speciation, and relevant genetics. The classic general theories of  insect population dynamics are reviewed, followed by chapters on life  tables, time series analysis and mathematical models in insect  populations. The final chapter reviews the application of autecology to  the insect pests of forests, farms and orchards and to the control of  insect vectors of diseases of humans and livestock. Particular attention  is paid to environmentally friendly methods of pest management and the  application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques.

This  volume is essential reading for professional entomologists and advanced  students of agricultural, medical and veterinary entomology, insect  ecology and conservation.