Parasitoid community ecology - Bradford A Hawkins

The study of parasitoid assemblages in which insects associated with a host plant attack and kill other insects has direct relevance to 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, there are currently no books devoted to the theme of parasitoid community ecology. Here, with a mix of general chapters and specific examplessuch as tortricids and weevils, the authors constructively review and evaluate our understanding of these often very complex systems. The emphasis is on basic science, linking the discussion to wider areas such as population dynamics, food webs, competition, and community structure. The applied end ofthe subject is covered in a section explicitly on biological control. This book represents the first source reference which deals 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.