East African forests, among the world’s most biologically rich and diverse, are subject to multiple pressures, including insects. As the first work to focus exclusively on East African forest insects, this monograph distils 135 years of scientific and historical literature extending from before the colonial era to the present into an authoritative survey of this region’s major pests of trees and wood, as well as their antagonists.
This monograph, in its second edition, remains the only comprehensive source of information on economically important forest insects in West Africa. There has been a complete upgrade to all photos, figures, tables and line drawings. Many pest insects discussed have the potential to greatly alter the utilization of these valuable tropical forests. This comprehensive treatise of insects includes information on the general forest cover types and insects of utilitarian value.
Insects are the most abundant and diverse organisms that inhabit our planet and are found in all the world’s forest ecosystems. Many feed and/or breed on parts of trees. Some perform important functions, such as pollination or break-down of dead vegetation. Others weaken, deform or kill trees, and compete with humans for the many goods and services that trees and forests provide. Forest Entomology: A Global Perspective examines forest insects in a global context and reviews their dynamics, interactions with humans and methods for monitoring and management of species that damage forests. Also provided are 235 profiles of forest insects, worldwide. A series of tables provides summaries of the distribution and hosts of many more species. Included are those that damage forests, others that are simply curiosities and some that are beneficial. This book is designed as a reference for students, practicing foresters and forest health specialists, especially for those who work internationally or are concerned with species that have the potential to expand their ranges via international trade, travel or environmental changes.
It is a great honor and indeed a privilege for me to write the Foreword to this book, the first of its kind from the Forest Products Research Institute The study of forest insects is now becoming a matter of great concern to many people all over the world because insects damage the already depleted forests and forest resources. In Ghana very little interest was shown in the insects of forest trees and products. But as forest practices have become more intensive so also have the pests on the crops increased and the damage caused increased to alarming proportions. Foresters are now becoming in creasingly aware of the immense havoc that some of these insects can cause. To aid the fight against the pests they have to be fully identified and studied so that effective control measures can be implemented. It is in an effort to bridge this gap in our knowledge that one welcomes this book by Professor Michael R. Wagner, Dr. S.K.N. Atuahene and Dr.
Wang has gathered contributions from an impressive cohort of the world’s most respected experts on longhorned beetles. Chapters review both basics of cerambycid taxonomy, mor- phology, and behavior (feeding, reproduction, and chemical ecology), as well as more applied concerns, such as laboratory rearing, pest control, and bio- security. Overall, this volume is a valuable contribution to the literature as a "one-stop shop" for readers seeking a comprehensive overview of longhorned beetles... It represents a tremendous effort on the part of Wang and the authors, and has resulted in a much-needed update to the literature. This volume is the only work of its kind available at this time, and is a valuable addition to the library of any scientist studying wood-boring beetles. - Ann M. Ray, Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio in The Quarterly Review of Biology, Volume 94, 2019 There are more than 36,000 described species in the family Cerambycidae in the world. With the significant increase of international trade in the recent decades, many cerambycid species have become major plant pests outside their natural distribution range, causing serious environmental problems at great cost. Cerambycid pests of field, vine, and tree crops and of forest and urban trees cost billions of dollars in production losses, damage to landscapes, and management expenditures worldwide. Cerambycidae of the World: Biology and Pest Management is the first comprehensive text dealing with all aspects of cerambycid beetles in a global context. It presents our current knowledge on the biology, classification, ecology, plant disease transmission, and biological, cultural, and chemical control tactics including biosecurity measures from across the world. Written by a team of global experts, this book provides an entrance to the scientific literature on Cerambycidae for scientists in research institutions, primary industries, and universities, and will serve as an essential reference for agricultural and quarantine professionals in governmental departments throughout the world.
