Mosquitoes and black flies are a constant threat to health and comfort, yet the modern chemical pesticides used to control them have cre ated serious ecological problems. Populations of resistant mosquitoes and black flies have evolved, beneficial insects and natural predators have been destroyed, and environmental pollution has increased worldwide. Therefore, scientists have energetically sought new, environmentally safe technologies to combat mosquitoes and black flies and the diseases they carry. Among the most effective alternative means of controlling these pests are the highly spe cific microbial agents derived from Bacillus tburingiensis or Bacillus spbaericus. The microbial control of mosquitoes and black flies is a very important, rapidly developing area of science. Entomologists and microbiologists have already achieved spectacular successes using B. tburingiensis and B. spbaericus against these pests. Recent discoveries of new bacterial isolates specific to new hosts and recent genetic improvements in these isolates have created the potential for wide-scale use of these biological control agents. Efficient microbial control of mosquitoes and black flies can now be achieved, but a proper knowledge of factors relating to the safe and effective use of these biological control agents is necessary. The efficacy of B. tburingiensis and B. spbaericus is influenced by the inherent differential tol erance of the target mosquitoes or black flies, by the formulation technology and application of these agents, and by environmental factors, especially sun light and temperature.

For many years the use of chemical agents such as pesticides and herbicides has been effective in controlling the many varieties of pests that infest both agricultural crops and backyard gardens. However, these pests are gradually becoming resistant to these agents, because the agents themselves are acting as selective factors making the pests better and better able to resist and persist. As a result, the use of biological controlling agents is increasing. This book is a comprehensive and authoritative handbook of biological control.

Surprising though it seems, the world faces almost as great a threat today from arthropod-borne diseases as it did in the heady days of the 1950s when global eradication of such diseases by eliminating their vectors with synthetic insecticides, particularly DDT, seemed a real possibility. Malaria, for example, still causes tremendous morbidity and mortality throughout the world, especially in Africa. Knowledge of the biology of insect and arachnid disease vectors is arguably more important now than it has ever been. Biological research directed at the development of better methods of control becomes even more important in the light of the partial failure of many control schemes that are based on insecticide- although not all is gloom, since basic biological studies have contributed enormously to the outstanding success of international control programmes such as the vast Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa. It is a sine qua non for proper understanding of the epidemiology and successful vector control of any human disease transmitted by an arthropod that all concerned with the problem - medical entomologist, parasitologist, field technician - have a good basic understanding of the arthropod's biology. Knowledge will be needed not only of its direct relationship to any parasite or pathogen that it transmits but also of its structure, its life history and its behaviour - in short, its natural history. Above all, it will be necessary to be sure that it is correctly identified.

Insect pest control continues to be a challenge for agricultural producers and researchers. Insect resistance to commonly used pesticides and the removal of toxic pesticides from the market have taken their toll on the ability of agricultural producers to produce high quality, pest-free crops within economical means. In addition to this, they must not endanger their workers or the environment. We depend on agriculture for food, feed, and fiber, making it an essential part of our economy. Many people take agriculture for granted while voicing concern over adverse effects of agricultural production practices on the environment. Insect Pest Management presents a balanced overview of environmentally safe and ecologically sound practices for managing insects. This book covers specific ecological measures, environmentally acceptable physical control measures, use of chemical pesticides, and a detailed account of agronomic and other cultural practices. It also includes a chapter on state-of-the-art integrated pest management based, a section on biological control, and lastly a section devoted to legal and legislative issues. Insect Pest Management approaches its subject in a systematic and comprehensive manner. It serves as a useful resource for professionals in the fields of entomology, agronomy, horticulture, ecology, and environmental sciences, as well as to agricultural producers, industrial chemists, and people concerned with regulatory and legislative issues.

Insect Pathology is designed for a broad spectrum of readers. Is should be useful to students, lecturers, and researchers requiring information about the principles in insect pathology and the biology of pathogens. It should serve as a resource for specialists to learn about other insect pathogen systems, for generalists to become aware of advances in insect pathology, and for scientists and students, beginning or otherwise, interested in learning about insect pathology. This book was originally intended to update the 1949 test by E. A. Steinhaus entitled Principles of Insect Pathology. The purpose for this book was twofold: To serve (1) as a text for an insect pathology and/or biological control class and (2) as a comprehensive reference source. Because this book summarizes much of the available information, its usefulness as a textbook for an insect pathology class is apparent. Although the literature citations are extensive, they are far from complete. The literature in insect pathology is voluminous and for the past decade has been expanding at an almost exponential rate. A complete review of the literature is beyond the scope of the book, and an omission of a reference does not preclude its importance. Our citations, however, should serve as a good starting point for those who wish to obtain further information. We have attempted to cover equally all subdisciplines, but shortcomings are unavoidable. For these, we take full responsibility.

Nature helps... of course at first itself by developing measures that give bacteria, fungi, plants and animals a chance to be successful in their struggle for life. As a latecomer on Earth, Homo sapiens was gifted with some droplets of the divine spirit of recognition and thus became able to observe, to analyse and recombine skills of other living beings and to use them for his overwhelming career over the last 10,000 years. Of course fungi, plants, animals and even bacteria were primarily used by mankind as food or as lifestyle products such as beer, but soon it became clear that there was much more potential hidden in these organisms and that they could be used for other purposes, too. Extracts of plants and fungi were recognized as powerful remedies, as medicines, as insecticides or acarizides, as repellents against parasites or even as weapons, e.g. when poisonous compounds from frogs or plants were applied to arrowheads. Over the last 110 years the pharmaceutical industry has often simulated nature by analyzing complex organic substances taken from living organisms and then producing by synthesis absolutely pure compounds, which mostly consisted of only one single active substance. These products had the advantage of acting against precisely one target and thus produced fewer possible side effects than the complex plant extracts. However, the more serious side effect was that disease agents could develop resistances to pure medicinal products much more easily. Thus after 70 years of excellent prospects for chemotherapy, some dark clouds appeared and quickly gathered, so that several therapeutic remedies now no longer work. Therefore in many countries - especially in those where the pure chemotherapeutics are too expensive for the poor population - the cry “back to nature” is becoming louder and louder. This has led to an enormous increase of studies that again use natural extracts as remedies in the fight against diseases. The present book summarizes examples of promising aspects in a broad spectrum of applications and shows how extracts derived from bacteria, marine organisms, plants or even animals may help to treat infectious diseases, how such organisms may keep away parasites and pests from the bodies of plants or animals, including humans, and how they can be used directly to aid in diagnosis, promote wound healing and even to help catch criminals. These 15 chapters offer not only basic research on these different fields, but also show how useful and effective products can be developed from research.

Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Second Edition, has been fully updated and revised to provide the latest information on developments in entomology relating to public health and veterinary importance. Each chapter is structured with the student in mind, organized by the major headings of Taxonomy, Morphology, Life History, Behavior and Ecology, Public Health and Veterinary Importance, and Prevention and Control. This second edition includes separate chapters devoted to each of the taxonomic groups of insects and arachnids of medical or veterinary concern, including spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks. Internationally recognized editors Mullen and Durden include extensive coverage of both medical and veterinary entomological importance. This book is designed for teaching and research faculty in medical and veterinary schools that provide a course in vector borne diseases and medical entomology; parasitologists, entomologists, and government scientists responsible for oversight and monitoring of insect vector borne diseases; and medical and veterinary school libraries and libraries at institutions with strong programs in entomology. Follows in the tradition of Herm's Medical and Veterinary Entomology The latest information on developments in entomology relating to public health and veterinary importance Two separate indexes for enhanced searchability: Taxonomic and Subject New to this edition: Three new chapters Morphological Adaptations of Parasitic Arthropods Forensic Entomology Molecular Tools in Medical and Veterinary Entomology 1700 word glossary Appendix of Arthropod-Related Viruses of Medical-Veterinary Importance Numerous new full-color images, illustrations and maps throughout

This book offer a plethora of environmentally benign alternatives to these chemical insecticides. It is hoped that the book will fill the wide gap in literature on utilization of biological and molecular approaches in biointensive IPM as an alternative to chemical insecticide based IPM for sustainable insect pest management in future.

The Biology of Mosquitoes Volume 3: Viral, Arboviral and Bacterial PathogensA N Clements, Professor Emeritus, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineMosquitoes are of significant interest both as transmitters of major diseases and as nuisance insects, and as such are one of the most intensively studied and well-known groups of insects.Following the widely acclaimed first two volumes of The Biology of Mosquitoes, this authoritative review covers viral, arboviral and bacterial pathogens of mosquitoes, with a further volume on malarial, filarial and other parasites to follow.While originally intended as a chapter in the projected third volume Dormancy, Survival, Speciation and Evolution, the important and extensive subjects of parasites and pathogens have instead been devoted two volumes of their own, providing the appropriate breadth and detail of coverage for factors so significant in the survival of adult mosquitoes, and therefore the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases.Covering host-parasite interactions, mosquito immune responses and characteristics and transmission of viruses and prokaryotes, this essential reference book is a must-read for entomologists, particularly those involved with mosquitoes as disease vectors or pests both in the laboratory and the field." Third volume in definitive series on mosquito biology" Indexed by species and subject" Illustrated with diagrams and electron micrographs" Uses the new classification and nomenclature for mosquito species" Broad coverage of developments in molecular biology" Synthesis of research from many disparate journals into one comprehensive volumeA fourth volume, Malarial, Filarial and Other Parasites, and the fifth and final volume, Dormancy, Survival, Speciation and Evolution, are in preparation.Praise for previous volumes"The Biology of Mosquitoes will form an essential source for years to come'¦Professor Clements' masterly compilation constitutes an indispensable guide for all culicidologists, whether their interests be academic or applied." - Philip Corbet, Antenna: Bulletin of the Royal Entomological Society