Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Author: Adam Slipinski

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING

Published: 2013-06-06

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 0643109919

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This book, by Australia's ladybird beetle specialist, Dr Adam Slipinski, illustrates Australia's diverse and fascinating ladybird beetle fauna — the commoner spotted species and the many others that are striped, glossy, and even very hairy. Most are predatory, but some are leaf feeders. This book reviews all 57 currently recognised genera of Australian Coccinellidae, recognising 260 valid described species, and including some genera and species newly described here. All genera are diagnosed, described and illustrated and a key to their identification is provided. Larvae of 30 species are described, illustrated and keyed. Sets of colour and black and white plates display these often beautifully colourful beetles, and their key features. The book is a must for all people interested in Australia's beetle fauna, in biocontrol and in natural resource management. This book was originally published in hardback by Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) in 2007 and is now available in a digital format.

Ecology and Behaviour of the Ladybird Beetles (Coccinellidae)
Ecology and Behaviour of the Ladybird Beetles (Coccinellidae)

Author: Ivo Hodek

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2012-04-19

Total Pages: 605

ISBN-13: 1118223225

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Ladybirds are probably the best known predators of aphids and coccids in the world, though this greatly underestimates the diversity of their biology. Maximising their impact on their prey is an important element in modern conservation biological control of indigenous natural enemies in contrast to the classical approach of releasing alien species. Ivo Hodek is one of the most internationally respected experts on coccinellids who has researched these insects for his entire career. He has now brought together 14 scientists of international standing to author 12 chapters, making this book the definitive treatment of coccinellid biology and ecology. This volume covers the rapid scientific developments of recent years in the understanding of coccinellid phylogeny, the semiochemicals influencing their behaviour and of molecular genetics. Recent insights in relation to intraguild predation and the assessment of the predatory impact of coccinellids are also covered. Other special features of the volume are the extensive references covering the literature from both East and West and a taxonomic glossary of the up-to-date nomenclature for species of coccinellids as well as of other organisms mentioned in the text. While aimed at researchers, university teachers and agricultural entomologists, the book is readable and appropriate for others who just have a liking for these interesting and attractive insects.

Nontarget Effects of Biological Control
Nontarget Effects of Biological Control

Author: Peter A. Follett

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 314

ISBN-13: 1461545773

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Nontarget Effects of Biological Control is the first book of its kind. The environmental safety of biological control has come under scrutiny due to several areas of concerns: the irreversibility of alien introductions, the prevalence of host switching to innocuous native or beneficial species, dispersal of the biocontrol agent to new habitats away from croplands, and the lack of research on the efficacy and impact of biocontrol attempts. The debate has been strongly polarized between conservationists and biological control practitioners. Nontarget Effects of Biological Control proposes that retrospective analyses of systems in place in which nontarget effects are now documented or suspected provide the necessary information for planning and evaluating future releases to reduce risk. The book presents case histories of past biological control introductions from island and continental ecosystems.

Handbook of Biological Control
Handbook of Biological Control

Author: T. W. Fisher

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 1999-09-20

Total Pages: 1073

ISBN-13: 0080533019

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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.

Biology of Coccinellidae
Biology of Coccinellidae

Author: Ivo Hodek

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-12-11

Total Pages: 309

ISBN-13: 9401027129

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This book provides the first monograph of Coccinellidae. Although the group finds inclusion both in Clausen's (1940) "Entomophagous Insects" and in Balduf's (1935) "Entomophagous Coleoptera", reference in these works is limited to three and twenty pages respectively. Moreover, the last thirty years since these books appeared have ~een a great deal of work on the group. The use of insecticides largely destroyed the early attempts at biological control and interest remained low for as long as insecticides appeared quite successfuL However, the problems of insecticides soon became apparent, and in the last decade there have been tremendous developments in biological control, particularly in eombin

Insect Predator-Prey Dynamics
Insect Predator-Prey Dynamics

Author: A. F. G. Dixon

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2000-06

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 9780521622035

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Much of our understanding about insect predator-prey dynamics has been due to studies on insect parasitoids. But do true predators such as ladybird beetles really operate in a similar way and how does this affect their use in biological control? The extensive literature on ladybirds as biocontrol agents shows that their size and rate of development is very dependent on the nature of their prey. This volume explores basic ladybird biology, their association with their prey and its effect on development rate and body size. Optimal foraging theory, field observations and laboratory experiments are used to illustrate how ladybird larvae maximise their rate of energy intake, and ladybird adults their fitness. The interdependence of these life history parameters is then used to develop a simple predator-prey model which, with an analysis of the literature, highlights the specific attributes of potentially successful biocontrol agents for all those interested in predator-prey dynamics.

Ecology and Behaviour of the Ladybird Beetles (Coccinellidae)
Ecology and Behaviour of the Ladybird Beetles (Coccinellidae)

Author: Ivo Hodek

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2012-05-21

Total Pages: 605

ISBN-13: 1405184221

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Ladybirds are probably the best known predators of aphids and coccids in the world, though this greatly underestimates the diversity of their biology. Maximising their impact on their prey is an important element in modern conservation biological control of indigenous natural enemies in contrast to the classical approach of releasing alien species. Ivo Hodek is one of the most internationally respected experts on coccinellids who has researched these insects for his entire career. He has now brought together 14 scientists of international standing to author 12 chapters, making this book the definitive treatment of coccinellid biology and ecology. This volume covers the rapid scientific developments of recent years in the understanding of coccinellid phylogeny, the semiochemicals influencing their behaviour and of molecular genetics. Recent insights in relation to intraguild predation and the assessment of the predatory impact of coccinellids are also covered. Other special features of the volume are the extensive references covering the literature from both East and West and a taxonomic glossary of the up-to-date nomenclature for species of coccinellids as well as of other organisms mentioned in the text. While aimed at researchers, university teachers and agricultural entomologists, the book is readable and appropriate for others who just have a liking for these interesting and attractive insects.