Insect Pest Management and Ecological Research

Insect Pest Management and Ecological Research explores the ecological research required for development of strategies to manage pest insects, with particular emphasis on the scientific principles involved in the design and conduct of pest-related research. Although the connection between Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and ecology has been long appreciated, their specific relationship to one another has remained vague until now. Here, Gimme Walter develops the first general model of the entomological research requirements of IPM. He shows how to navigate through the diversity of options presented by current ecological theory, emphasising pest situations. Besides theory and principle, the book includes practical advice on understanding and investigating species, examines the ecological problems associated with polyphagous pests and beneficial species, and scrutinises ways suggested to improve insect biological control. As such, it will be an important resource for graduate students and researchers, in IPM, insect pest management, entomology, ecology and crop protection.