Parasitoid Population Biology

Download Parasitoid Population Biology full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Parasitoid Population Biology ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

Parasitoid Population Biology

Author : Michael E. Hochberg
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 0691230897
Total Pages : 381 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (912 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Parasitoid Population Biology by : Michael E. Hochberg

Download or read book Parasitoid Population Biology written by Michael E. Hochberg and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2021-05-11 with total page 381 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extraordinary in the diversity of their lifestyles, insect parasitoids have become extremely important study organisms in the field of population biology, and they are the most frequently used agents in the biological control of insect pests. This book presents the ideas of seventeen international specialists, providing the reader not only with an overview but also with lively discussions of the most salient questions pertaining to the field today and prescriptions for avenues of future research. After a general introduction, the book divides into three main sections: population dynamics, population diversity, and population applications. The first section covers gaps in our knowledge in parasitoid behavior, parasitoid persistence, and how space and landscape affect dynamics. The contributions on population diversity consider how evolution has molded parasitoid populations and communities. The final section calls for novel approaches toward resolving the enigma of success in biological control and questions why parasitoids have been largely neglected in conservation biology. Parasitoid Population Biology will likely be an important influence on research well into the twenty-first century and will provoke discussion amongst parasitoid biologists and population biologists. In addition to the editors, the contributors are Carlos Bernstein, Jacques Brodeur, Jerome Casas, H.C.J. Godfray, Susan Harrison, Alan Hastings, Bradford A. Hawkins, George E. Heimpel, Marcel Holyoak, Nick Mills, Bernard D. Roitberg, Jens Roland, Michael R. Strand, Teja Tscharntke, and Minus van Baalen.

Evolutionary Biology of Parasites. (MPB-15), Volume 15

Author : Peter W. Price
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 0691209421
Total Pages : 254 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (912 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Evolutionary Biology of Parasites. (MPB-15), Volume 15 by : Peter W. Price

Download or read book Evolutionary Biology of Parasites. (MPB-15), Volume 15 written by Peter W. Price and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-03-31 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In spite of the fact that parasites represent more than half of all living species of plants and animals, their role in the evolution of life on earth has been substantially underestimated. Here, for the first time within an evolutionary and ecological framework, Peter Price integrates the biological attributes that characterize parasites ranging from such diverse groups as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi, to helminths, mites, insects, and parasitic flowering plants. Synthesizing systematics, ecology, behavioral biology, genetics, and biogeography, the author outlines the success of parasitism as a mode of life, the common features of the wide range of organisms that adopt such a way of life, the reasons for parasites' extraordinary potential for continued adaptive radiation, and their role in molding community structure by means of their impact on the evolution of host species. In demonstrating the importance of parasitic interactions for determining population patterns and geographical distributions, Dr. Price generates further discussion and suggests new areas for research.

Consumer-Resource Dynamics (MPB-36)

Author : William W. Murdoch
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 1400847257
Total Pages : 464 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (8 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Consumer-Resource Dynamics (MPB-36) by : William W. Murdoch

Download or read book Consumer-Resource Dynamics (MPB-36) written by William W. Murdoch and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2013-02-15 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite often violent fluctuations in nature, species extinction is rare. California red scale, a potentially devastating pest of citrus, has been suppressed for fifty years in California to extremely low yet stable densities by its controlling parasitoid. Some larch budmoth populations undergo extreme cycles; others never cycle. In Consumer-Resource Dynamics, William Murdoch, Cherie Briggs, and Roger Nisbet use these and numerous other biological examples to lay the groundwork for a unifying theory applicable to predator-prey, parasitoid-host, and other consumer-resource interactions. Throughout, the focus is on how the properties of real organisms affect population dynamics. The core of the book synthesizes and extends the authors' own models involving insect parasitoids and their hosts, and explores in depth how consumer species compete for a dynamic resource. The emerging general consumer-resource theory accounts for how consumers respond to differences among individuals in the resource population. From here the authors move to other models of consumer-resource dynamics and population dynamics in general. Consideration of empirical examples, key concepts, and a necessary review of simple models is followed by examination of spatial processes affecting dynamics, and of implications for biological control of pest organisms. The book establishes the coherence and broad applicability of consumer-resource theory and connects it to single-species dynamics. It closes by stressing the theory's value as a hierarchy of models that allows both generality and testability in the field.

Parasitoids

Author : H. Charles J. Godfray
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 069120702X
Total Pages : 484 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (912 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Parasitoids by : H. Charles J. Godfray

Download or read book Parasitoids written by H. Charles J. Godfray and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2019-12-31 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Parasitoids lay their eggs on or in the bodies of other species of insect, and the parasitoid larvae develop by feeding on the host, causing its eventual death. Known for a long time to applied biologists for their importance in regulating the population densities of economic pests, parasitoids have recently proven to be valuable tools in testing many aspects of evolutionary theory. This book synthesizes the work of both schools of parasitoid biology and asks how a consideration of evolutionary biology can help us understand the behavior, ecology, and diversity of the approximately one to two million species of parasitoid found on earth. After a general introduction to parasitoid natural history and taxonomy, the first part of the book treats the different components of the reproductive strategy of parasitoids: searching for a host, host selection, clutch size, and the sex ratio. Subsequent chapters discuss pathogens and non-Mendelian genetic elements that affect sexual reproduction; evolutionary aspects of the physiological interactions between parasitoid and host; mating strategies; life history theory and community ecology. A special effort is made to discuss the theoretical background to the subject, but without the use of mathematics.

Parasitoid Community Ecology

Author : Bradford A. Hawkins
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 544 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (319 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Parasitoid Community Ecology by : Bradford A. Hawkins

Download or read book Parasitoid Community Ecology written by Bradford A. Hawkins and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The study of parasitoid communities has direct relevance to general ecological theory and to the applied practice of biological control. Yet, despite the existence of a large and active international research community involved in the study of parasitoids, until now no books devoted to the theme of parasitoid community ecology have been available. Here, with a healthy mix of general discussions and specific examples such as tortricids and weevils, the authors constructively review and evaluate our understanding of these often very complex systems. The book emphasizes basic science, linking the discussion to wider areas such as population dynamics, food webs, competition, and community structure. The more applied end of the subject is covered in a section exclusively devoted to biological control. This book, the first to deal entirely with ecological aspects of parasitoid biology, offers summaries of the state of the field by leading researchers and identifies critical areas in need of further investigation. Students, researchers, and teachers in the field of ecology, animal behavior, entomology, forestry, and agriculture will all want to have a copy of the book on their shelves.

Pattern and Process in Host-Parasitoid Interactions

Author : Bradford A. Hawkins
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 0521460298
Total Pages : 204 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (214 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Pattern and Process in Host-Parasitoid Interactions by : Bradford A. Hawkins

Download or read book Pattern and Process in Host-Parasitoid Interactions written by Bradford A. Hawkins and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1994-07-28 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How is the staggering biodiversity of the parasitoid insects maintained? This book, first published in 1994, explores patterns in host-parasitoid interactions, including parasitoid community richness, the importance of parasitoids as mortality factors, and their impact on host densities as determined by the outcomes of parasitoid introductions for biological control. It documents general patterns using data sets generated from the global literature and evaluates potential underlying biological, ecological and evolutionary mechanisms. A theme running throughout the book is the importance of host refuges as a major constraint on host-parasitoid interactions. Much can be learnt from the analysis of broad patterns; a few simple rules can go a long way in explaining the major components of these interactions. This book will be an invaluable resource for researchers interested in community ecology, population biology, entomology and biological control.

Population Biology

Author : Alan Hastings
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1475727313
Total Pages : 228 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (757 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Population Biology by : Alan Hastings

Download or read book Population Biology written by Alan Hastings and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-14 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Population biology has been investigated quantitatively for many decades, resulting in a rich body of scientific literature. Ecologists often avoid this literature, put off by its apparently formidable mathematics. This textbook provides an introduction to the biology and ecology of populations by emphasizing the roles of simple mathematical models in explaining the growth and behavior of populations. The author only assumes acquaintance with elementary calculus, and provides tutorial explanations where needed to develop mathematical concepts. Examples, problems, extensive marginal notes and numerous graphs enhance the book's value to students in classes ranging from population biology and population ecology to mathematical biology and mathematical ecology. The book will also be useful as a supplement to introductory courses in ecology.

The Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Host-Parasitoid Interactions

Author : Michael Hassell
Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191588407
Total Pages : 214 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (915 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Host-Parasitoid Interactions by : Michael Hassell

Download or read book The Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Host-Parasitoid Interactions written by Michael Hassell and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2000-06-08 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines our current understanding of the population dynamics of one kind of interaction - that between insect parasitoids and their hosts. Parasitoids are amongst the most abundant of all animals, and make up about 10% or more of metazoan species. Almost no insect species escape their attack. Host-parasitoid interactions were first modelled over fifty years ago, but for many years there was little good empirical information on the important factors that affect host and parasitoid populations. The models were very simple, and their predictions rather divorced from the complexity of what was visible in the field. Now, better data is available on many components of host-parasitoid systems, from field observations and laboratory and field experiments, and this allows a much closer correspondence between models and data. In particular, the past twenty years have seen major advances in our understanding of how host-parasitoid interactions are influenced by spatial processes, by age-structure effects, and by competition from additional host and parasitoid species. The result is a body of theory that makes direct contact with real systems in the field, and provides us with a detailed understanding of what underpins a whole area of population dynamics. In this book, Michael P Hassell pulls the theory and field data together to present an elegant illustration of the way in which ecological studies advance.

Behavioral Ecology of Insect Parasitoids

Author : Eric Wajnberg
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 0470695455
Total Pages : 464 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (76 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Behavioral Ecology of Insect Parasitoids by : Eric Wajnberg

Download or read book Behavioral Ecology of Insect Parasitoids written by Eric Wajnberg and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2008-04-30 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by a team of leading international specialists, Behavioral Ecology of Insect Parasitoids examines the optimal behaviors that parasitoids exhibit in order to maximize long term offspring production. It is an essential reference for research scientists and students studying these fascinating insects or for anyone involved in using parasitoids in biological control programs. Reviews topical issues, including cutting edge research on parasitoid decision making and the implications for biological control Explores applications in other fields, provides information on the latest research methods, and includes helpful case studies and statistical tools Creates a deeper understanding of the link between behavioural strategies and host mortality, resulting in more efficient selective pest management programs “Overall, this is a fascinating volume that provides a significant contribution to the literature on parasitoid insects. It goes a long way toward providing insights into numerous aspects of parasitoid behavior and will stimulate a diversity of future projects, something that should be the goal of any such text. I highly recommend Wajnberg et al. for all of those working on the biology or evolution of parasitoids.” Palaios 2009

Evolutionary Ecology of Parasites

Author : Robert Poulin
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 041280560X
Total Pages : 227 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (128 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Evolutionary Ecology of Parasites by : Robert Poulin

Download or read book Evolutionary Ecology of Parasites written by Robert Poulin and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 1998 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Parasites evolve under selective pressures which are different from those acting on free-living organisms. The aim of this textbook is to present these pressures and to show how they have shaped the ecology of parasites over evolutionary time. Broad theoretical concepts are explained simply and clearly and illustrated throughout with example organisms. The book will be an invaluable text for advanced undergraduate biologists who are studying evolutionary biology, ecology, population biology, parasitology and evoluationary ecology. It will also prove to be a valuable reference to postgraduate students and researchers in the same fields.

Comparative Population Biology of the Parasitoid Nasonia Vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Hosts

Download Comparative Population Biology of the Parasitoid Nasonia Vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Hosts PDF Online Free

Author : Caren Sue Fried
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 310 pages
Book Rating : 4.E/5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Comparative Population Biology of the Parasitoid Nasonia Vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Hosts by : Caren Sue Fried

Download or read book Comparative Population Biology of the Parasitoid Nasonia Vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Hosts written by Caren Sue Fried and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Parasitoid Community Ecology

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 516 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (79 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Parasitoid Community Ecology by :

Download or read book Parasitoid Community Ecology written by and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 516 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Determinants of species richness and composition in egg parasitoid assemblages of Lepidoptera; Parasitoid guilds: a comparative analysis of the parasitoid communities of tortricids and weevils; The diversity of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidade) parasitoids; Parasitoid community structure: effects of host abundance, phylogeny, and ecology; Parasitoid host ranges; Life history characteristics of Tachinidae (Dipetera) and their effect on polyphagy; Mutualistic viruses and the evolution of host ranges in endoparasitoid Hymenoptera;; Parasitoids of leaf-mining Lepidoptera: what determines their host ranges; Effects of intraspecific plant variation on parasitoid communities; The window of parasitoid complex structure; Induced plant responses: effects on parasitoids and other natural enemies of phytophagous insects; Is the evolution of herbivore resistence influenced by parasitoids; The taste of enemy-free space: parasitoids and nasty hosts; The use and construction of parasitoids webs; Parasitoids communities associated with west African seed-feeding beetles; Africab fig wasp parasitoid communities; Population dynamics of host-parasitoid interaction; The structure and complexity of parasitoid communities in relation to biological control; Parasitoid communities, parasitoid guilds, and biological control; Building parasitoid communities: the complementary role of two introduced parasitoid species in a case of successful biological control; The implications of population dynamics theory to parasitoid diversity and biological control; Evolution of parasitoid communities; Parasitoids as model communities in ecological theory.

Biology, Ecology and Systematics of Australian Scelio

Author : Paul Dangerfield
Publisher : CSIRO PUBLISHING
ISBN 13 : 0643102442
Total Pages : 264 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (431 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Biology, Ecology and Systematics of Australian Scelio by : Paul Dangerfield

Download or read book Biology, Ecology and Systematics of Australian Scelio written by Paul Dangerfield and published by CSIRO PUBLISHING. This book was released on 2001-12-01 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Parasitic wasps of the genus Scelio play an important role in the regulation of orthopteran populations and are implicated in suppressing numbers of numerous pest locusts and grasshoppers. This landmark volume provides a full taxonomic treatment of the sixty species of Scelio found on the Australian continent and reviews in detail the biology and ecology and host relationships of Scelio on a worldwide basis. Taking an international perspective, the text outlines our current knowledge on topics such as host finding, population biology, and methods and techniques for collection and study in the field. The use of Scelio as biological control agents is discussed and comprehensive checklists document the recorded host relationships of each known species worldwide. There is a full taxonomic revision of all Australian species of Scelio, half of which are newly described. Each species description is complemented with high-quality line drawings, micrographs and distribution maps. In addition, an illustrated key to species enables easy identification of species by non-taxonomists. Biology, Ecology and Systematics of Australian Scelio provides wasp taxonomists, researchers of orthoptera and biological control workers with a basis for detailed studies elsewhere on this economically important group of insects.

Parasitoids

Author : Emily Donnelly
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781536151978
Total Pages : 135 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (519 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Parasitoids by : Emily Donnelly

Download or read book Parasitoids written by Emily Donnelly and published by . This book was released on 2019-02-14 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most insect parasitoids are related to two insect orders, Diptera and Hymenoptera, some having a specific host while others have a vast host range. As such, the opening chapter of Parasitoids: Biology, Behavior and Ecology discusses the influence of host preference and host specificity in biological control programs and their role in different biological control methods. The behavioral responses of parasitoids can determine the efficiency of a parasitoid species to control host pests. The functional response is one of the most important behavioral responses. The authors show that type II functional response is more common than the other types (I, III, IV and V) of functional response for most parasitoid species. In some research, type III functional response was also reported for parasitoids. The closing study hypothesized that conditioned parasitoids will parasitize more target hosts compared with individuals without prior conditioning. In conditioning experiments, females of the wasp Trichogramma cacoeciae, a generalist egg parasitoid, oviposited in Lobesia botrana eggs while exposed to L. botranas synthetic sex pheromone. Contrary to the hypothesis, this treatment failed to increase the parasitism rate in a subsequent exposure to the conditioned olfactory cue.

A Functional Biology of Parasitism

Author : Gerald W. Esch
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 360 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (318 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis A Functional Biology of Parasitism by : Gerald W. Esch

Download or read book A Functional Biology of Parasitism written by Gerald W. Esch and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 1993 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 1 Introduction.- 1.1 The extent of parasitism.- 1.2 Definitions.- 1.3 The concept of harm.- 1.4 Some adaptations to parasitism.- 1.5 Life cycle and ecology.- >2 Population concepts.- 2.1 Background.- 2.2 General definitions.- 2.3 Factors affecting parasite populations.- 2.4 The dispersion concept.- 2.5 Dynamics of population growth.- 3 Factors influencing parasite populations.- 3.1 Density-independent factors: introduction.- 3.2 Density-independent factors: case histories.- 3.3 Density-dependent factors: introduction.- 3.4 Density-dependent factors: case histories.- 3.5 Suprapopulation dynamics: introduction.- 3.6 Suprapopulation dynamics: case histories.- 4 Influence of parasites on host populations.- 4.1 Introduction to the concept of regulation.- 4.2 Crofton's approach.- 4.3 Overdispersion and regulation: introduction.- 4.4 Overdispersion and regulation: case histories.- 4.5 Epidemiological implications.- 4.6 Models.- 5 Life history strategies.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Reproductive strategies.- 5.3 Colonization strategies.- 5.4 Host behaviour and transmission.- 5.5 Theoretical considerations.- 6 Infracommunity dynamics.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 The evolution of parasite communities.- 6.3 Infracommunity structure.- 6.4 The screen/filter concept.- 7 Component and compound communities.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Core-satellite and generalist-specialist species concepts.- 7.3 Determinants of component communities.- 7.4 Habitat variability (succession) and parasitism.- 7.5 The biocoenosis and parasite flow.- 7.6 The allogenic-autogenic species concept.- 8 Biogeographical aspects.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Factors affecting the geographical distribution of parasites.- 8.3 Patterns of distribution.- 8.4 Ecological aspects.- 8.5 Applied aspects of biogeography.- 9 Evolutionary aspects.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Microevolution.- 9.3 Evolution of host-parasite interactions.- 9.4 Parasite influence in the evolutionary biology of the host.- 10 Summary.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Population concepts.- 10.3 Factors influencing parasite populations.- 10.4 Influence of parasites on host populations.- 10.5 Life-history strategies.- 10.6 Infracommunity dynamics.- 10.7 Component and compound communities.- 10.8 Biogeographical aspects.- 10.9 Evolutionary aspects.- 10.10 What next for the evolution and ecology of parasitism?.- References.- Taxonomic host index.- Taxonomic parasite index.

The Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Host-parasitoid Interactions

Author : Michael Patrick Hassell
Publisher : Oxford University Press on Demand
ISBN 13 : 9780198540892
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (48 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Host-parasitoid Interactions by : Michael Patrick Hassell

Download or read book The Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Host-parasitoid Interactions written by Michael Patrick Hassell and published by Oxford University Press on Demand. This book was released on 2000 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines our current understanding of the population dynamics of one kind of interaction--that between insect parasitoids and their hosts. Parasitoids are amongst the most abundant of all animals, and make up about 10% or more of metazoan species. Almost no insect species escape their attack. Host-parasitoid interactions were first modelled over fifty years ago, but for many years there was little good empirical information on the important factors that affect host and parasitoid populations. The models were very simple, and their predictions rather divorced from the complexity of what was visible in the field. Now, better data is available on many components of host-parasitoid systems, from field observations and laboratory and field experiments, and this allows a much closer correspondence between models and data. In particular, the past twenty years have seen major advances in our understanding of how host-parasitoid interactions are influenced by spatial processes, by age-structure effects, and by competition from additional host and parasitoid species. The result is a body of theory that makes direct contact with real systems in the field, and provides us with a detailed understanding of what underpins a whole area of population dynamics. In this book, Michael P. Hassell pulls the theory and field data together to present an elegant illustration of the way in which ecological studies advance.

Parasitoid Viruses

Author : Nancy E. Beckage
Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0123848598
Total Pages : 313 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (238 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Parasitoid Viruses by : Nancy E. Beckage

Download or read book Parasitoid Viruses written by Nancy E. Beckage and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2011-09-14 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Parasitoids are parasitic insects that kill their insect hosts in immature pre-reproductive stages. Parasitoids are employed in biological control programs worldwide to kill insect pests and are environmentally safe and benign alternatives to chemical pesticides. As resistance to chemical pesticides continues to escalate in many pest populations, attention is now refocusing on biologically-based strategies to control pest species in agriculture and forestry as well as insect vector populations that transmit human and animal diseases. Parasitoids are an economically critical element in this equation and ‘integrated pest management.’ Viruses have evolved intimate associations with parasitoids, and this book features sections on both symbiotic viruses that are integrated into the wasp’s chromosomal DNA (polydnaviruses) that play critical roles in suppressing host immunity during parasitism. A separate section with additional chapters on viral pathogens that infect parasitoids to cause disease and act as detrimental agents that limit effectiveness of wasp species employed in biological control of pests is also featured. A third component is a section on parasitoid venoms, which are of interest to the pharmaceutical and medical communities as well as insect-oriented biologists. Sections focus on both virus evolution and genomics as well as proteomics and functional roles of polydnavirus-encoded gene products International researchers and emerging leaders in their fields provide readers with syntheses of the latest research Includes content on both symbiotic viruses and pathogenic viruses, plus new research on parasitoid venoms Cutting-edge section on future directions in the field covers the impacts of polydnavirus research on medicine, human health, bioengineering and the economy, increasing the value for researchers and practitioners who need to stay on top of the research in this swiftly moving field