Thrips (fhysanoptera) are very small insects, widespread throughout the world with a preponderance of tropical species, many temperate ones, and even a few living in arctic regions. Of the approximately 5,000 species so far identified, only a few hundred are crop pests, causing serious damage or transmitting diseases to growing crops and harvestable produce in most countries. Their fringed wings confer a natural ability to disperse widely, blown by the wind. Their minute size and cryptic behavior make them difficult to detect either in the field or in fresh vegetation transported during international trade of vegetables, fruit and ornamental flowers. Many species have now spread from their original natural habitats and hosts to favorable new environments where they often reproduce rapidly to develop intense damaging infestations that are costly to control. Over the past decade there have been several spectacular examples of this. The western flower thrips has expanded its range from the North American continent to Europe, Australia and South Africa. Thrips palmi has spread from its presumed origin, the island of Sumatra, to the coast of Florida, and threatens to extend its distribution throughout North and South America. Pear thrips, a known orchard pest of Europe and the western United States and Canada has recently become a major defoliator of hardwood trees in Vermont and the neighboring states. Local outbreaks of other species are also becoming problems in field and glasshouse crops as the effectiveness of insecticides against them decline.

This text provides a scientific introduction to termites, including their behaviour, pest status and control.

A comprehensive treatise on thrips as crop pests set against a background covering basic biology, ecology, applied science and pest control.

This book presents a wealth of both general and specific information about rice. The first section outlines the distribution and mutual relationships of various types of rice with special attention to the adaptive strategy of wild and cultivated rice, and to the relationships between different ecotypes and their adaptation to low temperature, different photoperiods or different humidities. The section on rice morpho-physiology compares the characteristics of rice and dry land crops and different ecotypes with regard to seed dormancy and germination; describes the important steps in the photosynthetic structure process and its adjustment to the course of evolution of cultivated rice; studies the root and nutrient uptake and the responses to hormones in terrestrial and aquatic plants; considers the reproductive nature in relation to tolerance to environmental stress; and discusses the morphological characteristics of rice panicle in relation to grain filling, sink-source balance and variation in yield components of panicle structure. The last section reviews the genetics of rice and includes new findings on chromosomal analysis, cytoplasmic analysis and gene analysis and reviews recent achievements in tissue culture and genetic engineering techniques.The book is authoritative, well-documented and international in scope. It presents new and useful information of direct use to rice research workers and students, and of interest to crop physiologists, agronomists, plant physiologists and breeders throughout the world.

References, suppliers, and a comprehensive index make this book indispensable to growers, farm advisors, IPM scouts, pesticide applicators, pest control advisors, and students. A complete sourcebook for bulbs, cut flowers, potted flowering plants, foliage plants, bedding plants, ornamental trees, and shrubs as grown in the field, greenhouse, and nursery.--COVER.

This text presents an up-to-date account of the soft-scale insects, "Coccidae", and covers almost the entire spectrum of the knowledge of this insect family. It is divided into three sections, covering: soft scale insects; their natural enemies; and damage and control.

The cotton plant; Insects and mites; Pest management.

Sustainable Management of Arthropod Pests of Tomato provides insight into the proper and appropriate application of pesticides and the integration of alternative pest management methods. The basis of good crop management decisions is a better understanding of the crop ecosystem, including the pests, their natural enemies, and the crop itself. This book provides a global overview of the biology and management of key arthropod pests of tomatoes, including arthropod-vectored diseases. It includes information that places tomatoes in terms of global food production and food security, with each pest chapter including the predators and parasitoids that have specifically been found to have the greatest impact on reducing that particular pest. In-depth coverage of the development of resistance in tomato plants and the biotic and abiotic elicitors of resistance and detailed information about the sustainable management of tomato pests is also presented. - Provides basic biological and management information for arthropod pests of tomato from a global perspective, encompassing all production types (field, protected, organic) - Includes chapters on integrated management of tomato pests and specific aspects of tomato pest management, including within protected structures and in organic production - Presents management systems that have been tested in the real-world by the authors of each chapter - Fully illustrated throughout with line drawings and color plates that illustrate key pest and beneficial arthropods associated with tomato production around the world

Completely revised and expanded, Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs, 3rd Edition, is a comprehensive, how-to integrated pest management (IPM) resource for landscapers, arborists, home gardeners, retailers, and parks and grounds managers. This easy-to-use guide covers hundreds of insects, mites, nematodes, plant diseases, and weeds that can damage California landscapes. The book's 435 pages present the practical experience and research-based advice of more than 100 University of California (UC) and industry experts, including: • Pest-resistant plants and landscape design • Planting, irrigating, and other cultural practices that keep plants healthy • Conserving natural enemies to biologically control pests • Efficient monitoring so you know when to act • Selective pesticides and when their use may be warranted • Numerous references to regularly-updated, online guides with more pesticide choices and the latest IPM practices Inside you'll find: • 575 high-quality, color photographs to help you recognize the causes of plant damage and identify pests and their natural enemies. 140 more than the previous edition! • 101 line drawings and charts of pest biology and control techniques • Problem-solving tables to help you diagnose the pests and maladies of more than 200 genera of alphabetically-listed trees and shrubs Also in the 3rd Edition are dozens of newly added pests, including those affecting azaleas, camellias, hibiscus, camphor, eucalyptus, liquidambar, oaks, maples, palms, pines, olive, roses, and sycamores.

Darwin famously described special difficulties in explaining social evolution in insects. More than a century later, the evolution of sociality - defined broadly as cooperative group living - remains one of the most intriguing problems in biology. Providing a unique perspective on the study of social evolution, this volume synthesizes the features of animal social life across the principle taxonomic groups in which sociality has evolved. The chapters explore sociality in a range of species, from ants to primates, highlighting key natural and life history data and providing a comparative view across animal societies. In establishing a single framework for a common, trait-based approach towards social synthesis, this volume will enable graduate students and investigators new to the field to systematically compare taxonomic groups and reinvigorate comparative approaches to studying animal social evolution.