The application of organic insecticides in the agrotechnical praxis resulted in a great and unexpected progress in the control of insect pests, and was of a great economical value all over the world. The widespread application of these agents, however, is also accompanied by negative effects. The principal drawback of classical insecticides consists in the lack of their specificity, the useful insects being killed together with insect pests. Furthermore, the broad-scale application for many years led to the formation of more resistant insect strains requiring higher and higher doses of insecticides. The residues of the mostly used chlorinated compounds accumulate in human and animal foods producing directly or indirectly harmful effects in human sub jects. The critical situation led in many developed countries to the restriction in the usage of some types of classical insecticides. Under these circumstances it is quite natural that novel routes for the control of insect pests are investigated. In this connection, attention has been paid especially to the insect endocrinology and insect hormones which regulate the admirable and in many regards specific development from the egg to the adult insect. The recent successful discoveries in this field are thus in close relation to the practical requirements. Isolation and identification of moulting hor mones and juvenile-hormone-like naturally occurring substances not only made possible an exact investigation of their physiological effects but also stimulated the chemical research.

00 This is the first comprehensive guide to insect life in a part of the world known for its abundant, and endangered, life forms. Charles Hogue's scholarship embraces vast geographical territory--Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Color photographs and first-rate drawings illustrate the clearly written text. This is the first comprehensive guide to insect life in a part of the world known for its abundant, and endangered, life forms. Charles Hogue's scholarship embraces vast geographical territory--Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Color photographs and first-rate drawings illustrate the clearly written text.

This handbook series includes several naturally occurring chemicals that exhibit biological activity. These chemicals are derived from plants, insects, and several microorganisms. Volume I of this series is covers the theory and practice of the strategies for pest control and methods for detection.Moreover, it presents extensive tables that provide the information you need to select the most appropriate bioassay for a particular plant growth regulator or hormone. In addition to the chapters on bioassays, Volume I provides a solid introduction to the theory and practice of natural pesticide use, including in-depth discussions of integrated management systems for weed and pest control, the state-of-the-art use of computers in pest management, and allelochemicals as natural protection. Guidelines on toxicological testing and EPA regulation of natural pesticides are also detailed.

The most striking fact revealed by investigations of insect neurohormones is that insects are as well supplied with neurohormones as mammals, since neurohor mones regulate not only the functioning of the endocrine glands, prothoracic gland, and corpora allata, but also most physiological processes. Our knowledge of neurohormones developed originally from anat omocytological investigations and experimental studies. Today, accurate bio assays have been devised for studying both in vivo and in vitro physiological processes, and RIA determination has yielded knowledge of titer modifications of humoral factors. Much is also known about neurohormone purification, and several neurohormones have even been identified in different species. Immunocytochemistry has made it possible to demonstrate in their origin and release sites the presence of insect neurohormones whose structure has been elucidated. Moreover, the presence of vertebrate and invertebrate neuropeptides has been demonstrated in insects. As regards biogenic amines, methods of detection have been greatly refined and it is now possible to identify the cell bodies and axons of the main biogenic amines. Other new methods, such as cobalt chloride impregnation or Lucifer yellow staining, have revealed the axonal pathways and the location of particular neurons. The mechanisms of action of neurohormones have been investigated in several cases and the results of these investigations will be related in the chapters which follow.

Insecticide Mode of Action presents significant research on the biological activity of insecticides. The book is organized into three sections encompassing 13 chapters that summarize three major groups of insecticides, including neurotoxic, formamidine, and developmental insecticides. The first section of the book presents studies on groups of conventional neurotoxic insecticides: chlorinated hydrocarbons, pyrethroids, carbamates, and organophosphorus chemicals. This text discusses their structure, poisoning property, structure-activity relationships, and stereoselectivity. The subsequent section discusses the biochemical, biological, and neurotoxic actions of formamidines, a group of pesticides that exhibit an unusual spectrum of activity. Several modes of action of pharmacological significance as well as some important behavioral effects are included in this section. The third section addresses groups of insecticides that affect insect growth and development. Such chemicals typically demonstrate marked selectivity and represent more sophisticated strategies in the chemical control of insect pests. This book is of value to researchers, teachers, and regulatory personnel concerned with the biological activity of insecticides.

Advances in Insect Physiology

Over the past 25 years insect pharmacology has grown from a fledgling subject to one that occupies a major field of science. Volume ll reviews insect pharmacology past and present and effectively captures the growing confidence which imbues the world of the insect pharmacologist. It contains l5 chapters written in authoritative fashion by leading scientists and is fully illustrated and referenced. Insect preparations are proving ideal for resolving problems in pharmacology which have general significance, particularly at the molecular and genetic levels. This volume contains a wealth of data, information and ideas and will therefore be a valuable asset to all in academic or industrial research concerned with the science and control of insects.