Behavior of Insect Natural Enemies - Ecology and Applications in Biological Control

Natural enemies of insects, consisting of predators, parasitoids, and pathogens, have attracted the attention of scientists and industry experts across the globe. Their unusual behaviors, from parasitism to cannibalism, exemplify a variety of biological behaviors and processes occurring within a balanced, yet complex ecosystem. They are ecofriendly and safe alternatives to pesticides yet still act as effective checks to pest populations. Behavior of Insect Natural Enemies: Ecology and Applications in Biological Control provides a comprehensive guide to the mating, oviposition, predation, parasitism, competition, and foraging behavior of insect and mite natural enemies. A thorough understanding of these behaviors is essential for the development of novel and effective biological control and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

With contributions from leading experts in the field, Behavior of Insect Natural Enemies is an essential resource for anyone with an interest in the fascinating world of insect behavior. Researchers in academia and industry can build upon the knowledge in this resource to investigate and develop novel biocontrol methods. Students, particularly graduate and postgraduate students, as well as lecturers in the fields of entomology, parasitology, zoology and plant protection will also benefit from this fascinating reference.

List of contents

Section I: General Behavior of Natural Enemies
1. Natural Enemies and IPM
2. Effective Insect Predators
3. Effective Parasitoids
4. Specialists vs Generalist Predators
5. Ecological and Evolutionary Forces Shaping the Foraging Behaviour of Predators
6. Foraging behaviour of predators
7. Mating and Oviposition Behaviour of Predators
8. Behavioural Responses of Natural Enemies to Host/Prey Defences
9. Foraging, Mating and Oviposition Behaviour of Parasitoids
10. Behaviour of Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affecting the Efficacy of Natural Enemies of Insect Pests
11. Behaviour of Entomopathogenic Viruses Affecting the Efficacy of Natural Enemies of Insect Pests
12. Behaviour of Entomopathogenic Bacteria Affecting the Efficacy of Natural Enemies of Insect Pests
13. Behaviour of Entomopathogenic Fungi Affecting the Efficacy of Natural Enemies of Insect Pests
14. Semiochemicals and Natural Enemies
15. Hyperparasitism and Superparasitism
16. Cannibalism in Natural Enemies
17. Intraguild Predation in Natural Enemies

Section II: Species-specific Characteristics and Behaviors
18. Behaviour of Trichogrammatid Parasitoids
19. Behaviour of Braconid Parasitoids
20. Behaviour of Ichneumonid Parasitoids
21. Behaviour of Tachinid Parasitoids
22. Behaviour of Chalcidoid Parasitoids
23. Behaviour of Predatory Wasps
24. Behaviour of Syrphid Predators
25. Behaviour of Reduviid Predators
26. Behaviour of Neuropteran Predators
27. Foraging Behaviour of Predatory Mites
28. Mating and Oviposition Behaviour of Predatory Mites

About the author

Yaghoub Fathipour received his Ph.D. in Population Ecology from Tarbiat Modares University in 1999 under the supervision of Prof. Karim Kamali. He joined the Department of Entomology at Tarbiat Modares University as an Assistant Professor of Population Ecology in 2000 and was promoted to Associate Professor and Professor in May 2005 and August 2010, respectively. His research work has been mainly concerned with population ecology, the mass production of biocontrol agents, and integrated pest management programs.Prof. Omkar, FNASc, associated with teaching for more than 36 years and research for 45 years, is a Former Head, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, Former Coordinator, UGC-SAP (DRS-II), DST-FIST, DST-PURSE, Centre of Excellence, Govt. of UP, programs. He has worked on 10 more projects of state/central funding agencies. He specializes in Environmental Toxicology and Entomology, with particular reference to the Insect Pest Management. He is Chief Editor, Journal of Applied Bioscience, Associate Editor, International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, Springer and President, International Society of Applied Biology.
Professor Omkar has Contributed following Books as Author/Editor (14 books by reputed international publishers): 1. Concepts of Toxicology, Vishal Pubco (2017), 2. Pesticides, Man & Biosphere (1998), 3. Prof. S. B. Singh Commemoration Volume (2002), 4. Experimental Animal Physiology & Biochemistry (2003), 5.Modern Approaches to Insect Pest Management(2010) 6. Kin recognition and Oviposition Strategies in aphidophagous ladybirds (2012), 7. Monitoring and Management of Mango fruitfly (2012), 8. Predaceous Ladybirds of Uttar Pradesh (2013), 9. Ecofriendly Pest Management for Food Security, Elsevier (2016) 10. Industrial Entomology, Springer (2017), 11. Pests and Their Management, Springer (2018), 12. Sucking Pests of Crops, Springer (2020), 13. Polyphagous Pests of Crops, Springer (2021), 14. Molecular Approaches for Sustainable Insect Pest Management, Springer (2021), 15. Microbial Approaches for Insect Pest Management, Springer (2021), 16. Reproductive Strategies in Insects, CRC Press (2021), 17. Insects As Service Providers, Springer (2023), 18. Parasitoids in Pest Management, CRC Press (2023), 19. Insect Predators in Pest Management CRC Press (2023), 20. Commercial Insects CRC Press (2023), 21. Comprehensive Environmental Biology, Newage, 22. Concepts of Environmental Biology, Newage, 23. Environmental Pollution, Newage, 24. Biodiversity Conservation, Newage (2023), 25. Mosquitoes: Biology, Pathogenicity & Management, Springer Nature (2024); 26. Flies: Agricultural & Public Heath Perspectives CRC press (2025), 27. Vish Vigyan Ki Avadharnayein (2025, in Hindi), Aastha Publications, Delhi..
He is a receipient of several awards, like Saraswati Samman by the Department of Higher Education, Govt. of UP; Prof. T N Ananthakrishanan Foundation Award, Rescholar Award of Excellence in Agricultural Entomlogy by Association of Entomologists, Prof. G. S. Shukla Gold Medal by The Academy of Environmental Biology, Dr. S. Pradhan Memorial Lecture Award by The Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute & The Entomological Society of India, New Delhi, ACCLAIM and Uddeepan awards from University of Lucknow. He is a Fellow of The Entomological Society of India, Zoological Society of India, Society for Biocontrol Advancement and Fellow of The National Academy of Sciences India (FNASc), besides many others. He has 24 books to his credit. He has published 270 Research papers, 16 Reviews, 60 Reviews as Book chapters, 20 Popular Science articles. Prof. Omkar has guided 28 Ph. D. students. He has visited the School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia (2006) for three months and Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia and Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic (May 2016) under INSA Bilateral Exchange programs.

Product details

• Assisted by: Yaghoub Fathipour (Editor), Omkar (Editor)
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 01.12.2025
• EAN: 9780443247965
• ISBN: 978-0-443-24796-5
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Zoology; SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / Entomology, Insects (entomology), Zoology: invertebrates