Synopses & Reviews
Investigates predator-prey dynamics of ladybird beetles, and the implications for biological control.
Review
'\"The book is well organized and very well written...Recommended for biology, ecology, entomology, biological control, and related fields. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals.\" Choice\"Dixon has marked a clear and inviting path forward; the book succeeds well in expanding our perspectives on how insect predators interact with their prey.\" Ecology\"This book is an excellent review of many of the studies conducted in the field...The extensive work conducted on ladybird beetles provides a good basis for examining insect predator-prey dynamics, and this eloquent book is an excellent synopsis of the research. This volume will be invaluable to those working on insect predators, but undergraduate ecology students will also enjoy this comprehensive examination of predator-prey dynamics.\" The Quarterly Review of Biology\"[A] book that anyone studying coccinellids or biological control should get and read...likely to long remain a basic primer on ladybird biology, ecology, population dynamics and practical use in biological control. No serious student working with this family of predators can afford to do without owning his or her own copy!\" Ecoscience'
Review
"The book is well organized and very well written...Recommended for biology, ecology, entomology, biological control, and related fields. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." Choice
Review
"Dixon has marked a clear and inviting path forward; the book succeeds well in expanding our perspectives on how insect predators interact with their prey." Ecology
Review
"This book is an excellent review of many of the studies conducted in the field...The extensive work conducted on ladybird beetles provides a good basis for examining insect predator-prey dynamics, and this eloquent book is an excellent synopsis of the research. This volume will be invaluable to those working on insect predators, but undergraduate ecology students will also enjoy this comprehensive examination of predator-prey dynamics." The Quarterly Review of Biology
Review
"[A] book that anyone studying coccinellids or biological control should get and read...likely to long remain a basic primer on ladybird biology, ecology, population dynamics and practical use in biological control. No serious student working with this family of predators can afford to do without owning his or her own copy!" Ecoscience
Synopsis
Ladybird beetles have long been used in the biological control of insect pests, but as with many biocontrol agents, they have not always been successful. This book explores the biology and interactions of predator and prey to develop a better understanding of what makes a successful predator for biological control.
Synopsis
Much of our understanding of insect predator-prey dynamics has been a result of studies of insect parasitoids, rather than true predators. This book explores the dynamics of ladybird beetles, true predators of aphids and coccids, highlighting similarities and differences between these and parasitoids. The implications of these findings for the identification of successful biological control agents is examined, making this an important resource for all those interested in pest management, insect population biology or entomology.
Table of Contents
Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Basic biology and structure; 3. Body size; 4. Slow-fast continuum in life history parameters; 5. Foraging behaviour; 6. Cannibalism; 7. Theory of predator-prey interactions; 8. Intraguild predation; 9. Biological control; 10. Epilogue; 11. References; Taxonomic index; Subject index.