Control of Pests and Weeds by Natural Enemies. An Introduction to Biological Control
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Author(s): R. van Driesche, M. Hoddle and T. Center
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
ISBN: 9781405145718
Format: softback
473pp
Price: £34.99
Review Date: 23 July 2008
Review: This textbook covers two major applications of biological control: permanent control of invasive insects and plants at the landscape level, and temporary suppression of both native and exotic pests in farms, tree plantations and greenhouses. Classical biological control aims to cause permanent change to the natural enemy complex by introducing new species from the pest’s homeland or from related species. This successful method had been used over the last 100 years to suppress over 200 species of invasive insects and 40 species of weeds in countries throughout the world. The book is divided into 11 parts: Scope of biological control; Kinds of natural enemies; Invasions and why biological control is needed; Natural enemy introductions; The role of population ecology and population models in biological control; Tools for classical biological control; Safety; Measuring natural enemy impacts on pests; Conserving biological control agents in crops; Biopesticides; and Other targets and new directions.