This comprehensive resource examines agricultural pest management from all angles—magnifying practical field strategies for growers and their advisors, updating them on the latest protection techniques, and preventing needless crop loss as a result of outdated pest control procedures. Fundamental approaches to understanding and using insecticides, acaricides, and transgenic crops are presented. Numerous color photographs, diagrams, information-packed tables, glossary, and an index are included.

The handbook begins with a discussion of pesticide and transgenic crop regulations as well as principles for their proper and responsible use. Deployment in IPM and how insecticides, acaricides, and transgenic crops can be blended with other control tactics is discussed. Details on the chemistry, toxicology, and general uses of the primary insecticides and acaricides in use today are covered. The user learns to choose a course of action based on a physiological approach with a thorough discussion of key commercial molecules or pathogens within each pesticide class.

Also included is a comprehensive look at insecticidal transgenic crops. A discussion of the biochemical and physiological processes that lead to pest resistance provides a foundation for developing strategies to mitigate and manage resistance. The molecular biology and pharmacology of Cry gene constructs is discussed, as well as their use in crop development. Concerns over pest resistance to Bt and its favorable characteristics for evolving pest adaptation to Cry toxins are presented. The book also provides industry and user perspectives on mandated resistance management systems. One company’s proactive resistance management program is examined, illustrating the ongoing effort by IPM specialists, growers, industry, universities, and the federal government to protect the technology.

This handbook will be as useful to the professional as it will be to students. Extension specialists, government, and industry personnel dealing with regulation, research, sales and utilization and disposal of insecticides, acaricides, and transgenic crops will find this an excellent reference. The comparative information on common pesticide products and GMO plants will be of use to growers and other commodity producers. In addition, it can serve at a textbook for undergraduate courses in Insect Pest Management (IPM) as well as graduate courses in IPM or Utilization and Management of Pesticides and Transgenic Crops.

Use and Management of Insecticides, Acaricides, and Transgenic Crops

Section 1: Deployment of Insecticides, Acaricides, and Transgenic Crops

Relevance of Pesticides in the Management of Arthropod Pests
Regulations Governing Insecticides, Acaricides, and Transgenic Crops

Implications of Federal and State Regulations for Users

Insecticides, Acaricides, and Transgenic Crops and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Arthropod Sampling and Decision Making

Section 2: Classification, Formulation, and Application of Insecticides and Acaricides

Physiological Targeting of Insecticides and Acaricides
Classification and Properties of Commercial Insecticides and Acaricides
Formulations
Deployment of Insecticides and Acaricides

Section 3: Management of Pest Resistance to Insecticides and Acaricides

Insecticide/Acaricide Resistance and Management Strategies
Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC)

Section 4: Safety of Insecticide/Acaricides and Transgenic Crops to Nontarget Species in the Environment

Environmental Safety of Insecticides and Acaricides
Mammalian Toxicology

Insecticides, Acaricides, and Transgenic Crops

Assessment of Environmental Toxicology to Arthropod Natural Enemies

Development, Utilization, and Management of Insecticidal Transgenic Crops

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry Proteins
Crop Development with Cry Gene Constructs
Market Development of Bollgard Cotton
YieldGard Transgenic Corn Insect Technologies
Grower Acceptance and Utilization of Transgenic Crops in IPM Programs
Status and Basis of Insect Resistance to Transgenic Bt Crops
Resistance Management Programs for Transgenic Crops

"...very comprehensive...without any doubt this book will be greatly useful to plant protection specialists all over the world and therefore should be present in all agricultural libraries."
—Journal of Plant Protection Research