'We often overlook the ability of insects to overcome the effects of continued stress as is often experienced with development of resistance as well as the evolution of new biotypes. The single gene technology poses several challenges including stability of gene expression besides concern on the safety of products. It is against the background that integration of conventional and biotechnological approaches to pest control assumes importance'--Cover.

Biotechnology has contribute much to the field of insect pest management so far, from side to side development of transgenic plants and other novel ecofriendly products to manage insects. Recognition of the importance and relevance of biotechnological applications in insect control is gaining momentum. There is also improved interest among scientists in developing novel strategies for insect pest management. Realizing the possible benefits and constraints in the use of biotechnology in insect pest management, a national symposium on 'Biotechnology and Insect Pest Management' was organized freshly. Deliberations during the symposium covered various aspects such as insect resistant transgenic crops, microbial pesticides - process and development, botanical pesticides - process and development, hybridization techniques in the production of potential natural enemies, insect and animal vectors of diseases and biosafety concerns, etc. Genetic engineering has been used to enhance the insecticidal efficacy of various strains of Bt by increasing virulence, extending host range, and increasing field stability, and by introducing alternative toxins to facilitate resistance management. Techniques have been developed for production by genetic means of new strains of Bt with new combinations of toxin genes. Crop varieties resistant to insects are far less common than disease-resistant varieties, because plant breeders have traditionally focused more on disease resistance. However, if they are available, resistant varieties can be an effective defense against insect pests. But even when insect-resistant cultivars are not available, some varieties may be less attractive to pest species or may tolerate more damage than others. Plant size, shape, coloration, leaf hair, cuticle thickness, and natural chemicals (attractants and repellents) can all affect pest susceptibility. Farmers can do their own breeding by collecting non-hybrid seed from healthy plants in the field. Plants well adapted to local conditions will be more likely to resist pests. This book throws new light on alternative technologies to control insect pests. Scientists from different institutions from all over world have provided various biotechnology based techniques and other means to manage insect pests.

This text presents a spectrum of views on the benefits and risks in the use of biotechnology in integrated pest management. It assesses the likelihood of new technologies being usefully incorporated into IPM programmes, and discusses types of new biotechnologies.

Due to increasing problems occurring from massive applications of pesticides, such as insect resistance to pesticides, the use of biotechnological tools to minimize losses from insect pests has become inevitable. Presenting alternative strategies for alleviating biotic stresses, Biotechnological Approaches for Pest Management and Ecological Sustain

In their comprehensive paper, Montague Yudelman, Annu Ratta, and Davi Nygaard examine the key issues with regard to pest management and food production over the coming decades. They draw attention to the lack of adequate information on the magnitude and impact of pest losses; without such information, policymarkers are handicapped when devising strategies for meeting food needs. The authors address both chemical and nonchemical approaches to pest management, highlighting the importance of biotechnology. There is growing public sentiment against biotechnology but little appreciation as yet of its contributions to alleviating hunger by, among other things, controlling pest losses. The authors also address the important subject of the roles of different actors in pest management, most notably the private sector.

Integrated Pest Management: Current Concepts and Ecological Perspective presents an overview of alternative measures to traditional pest management practices using biological control and biotechnology. The removal of some highly effective broad-spectrum chemicals, caused by concerns over environmental health and public safety, has resulted in the development of alternative, reduced risk crop protection products. These products, less toxic to the environment and easily integrated into biological control systems, target specific life stages or pest species. Predation — recognized as a suitable, long-term strategy — effectively suppresses pests in biotechnological control systems. Integrated Pest Management covers these topics and more. It explores the current ecological approaches in alternative solutions, such as biological control agents, parasites and predators, pathogenic microorganisms, pheromones and natural products as well as ecological approaches for managing invasive pests, rats, suppression of weeds, safety of pollinators, role of taxonomy and remote sensing in IPM and future projections of IPM. This book is a useful resource to entomologists, agronomists, horticulturists, and environmental scientists. - Fills a gap in the literature by providing critical analysis of different management strategies that have a bearing on agriculture, sustainability and environmental protection - Synthesizes research and practice on integrated pest management - Emphasizes an overview of management strategies, with critical evaluation of each in the larger context of ecologically based pest management

This volume reviews current developments in integrated pest management (IPM), focussing on insect pests. It discusses advances in understanding species and landscape ecology on which IPM is founded, as well as advances in cultural, physical and biological methods of control. The first part of the book reviews current developments in understanding insect species, community and agroecosystems ecology. This understanding provides the foundation for developing effective IPM programmes which work with ecosystems to keep pests from reaching damaging levels. Parts 2 and 3 then review advances in cultural, physical and, in particular, biological methods of control. Chapters cover developments in classical, conservation and augmentative biological control as well as the use of entomopathogenic fungi, viruses, nematodes and semiochemicals. The final parts of the book summarise current research on monitoring pesticide use as well as emerging classes of biopesticides. Edited by pioneers in IPM techniques, and including contributions from some of most eminent experts in the field, this will be a standard reference for the IPM research community, crop scientists, entomologists, companies involved in pesticides and crop pest management as well as government agencies monitoring and regulating pest management in agriculture.

Pest and disease management continues to challenge the agricultural community. The rise in new pest and crop problems juxtaposed with public concern over pesticide use and more stringent environmental regulations creates the need for today's agricultural producers to stay current with new technologies for producing quality crops profitably. Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests presents an overview of alternative measures to traditional pest management practices, utilizing biological control and biotechnology. The removal of some highly effective broad-spectrum chemicals, caused by concerns over environmental health and public safety, has resulted in the development of alternative, reduced risk crop protection products. These products, less toxic to the environment and easily integrated into biological control systems, target specific life stages or pest species. Predation - recognized as a suitable, long term strategy - effectively suppresses pests in biotechnological control systems. Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests covers these topics and more. It explores the current approaches in alternative solutions such as: biological control agents, parasites and predators, pathogenic microorganisms, pheromones, botanical insecticides, genetic control, genetic engineering of plants and biocontrol agents, and government regulations for biocontrol agents and recombinant DNA technology. This book will be a useful resource to entomologists, agronomists, horticulturists, and environmental scientists.