Cotton pest biocontrol agents / T. V. Sathe and G. S. Margaj

The book covers many recent advances pertaining to research on cotton. The useful information is provided on the marks of identification, life cycle, damage, hosts and various control measures of cotton pests. The book also provides rearing technique for some cotton pests and their biocontrol agents (parasitoids). As biological control is integral part of pest management, emphasis is given on the cotton-pest parasitoid interactions. Many cotton pests have developed the resistance against several insecticides. Infact, insecticidal use leads to very serious problems like secondary pest out-break, pest resurgence, interruption in ecocycles, air and water pollution, health hazards, killing of beneficial insects, etc. The knowledge on cotton pest parasitoids will facilitate the control of pests on cotton ecosystem by biological means. Several plates and illustrations enhance the pictorial value of the book. This book will be a useful guide to farmers, students, teachers and researchers in the pest management and of use as text book at graduate/post graduate level in agriculture. Contents: Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Cotton Pests and their Control, Chapter 3: Rearing of Pests and their Parasitoids, Chapter 4: Pest Parasitoid Interactions (i) Nutrition, (ii) Mating Behaviour, (iii) Oviposition Behaviour (iv) Superparasitism, (v) Host Age Selection, (vi) Host Specificity, (vii) Life Tables and Intrinsic Rate of Increase, Chapter 5: Pest Parasitoid Crop Interactions, Chapter 6: Summary.

Includes bibliographies.