Mites pose a serious problem to plants worldwide, attacking crops and spreading disease. When mites damage crops of economic importance the impacts can be felt globally. Mites are among the most diverse and successful of invertebrates, with over 45,000 described species, with many more thousands to be discovered. They are responsible for a significant portion of the losses of crops for food, fibre, industry and other purposes, and require expensive and often controversial pest control measures. Understanding these mites is vital for entomologists, pest researchers, agronomists and food producers. Knowledge of mite pests helps to inform control strategies and optimize the production of economic plants and the agrarian economy. This encyclopedia provides a thorough coverage of the mites and the problems they cause to crops, yet it is easily searchable, organised by mite species and subdivided into helpful headings. It takes a worldwide view of the issue of mites injurious to economic plants, describing mites prevalent in different regions and discussing control methods appropriate in different environments. This book provides an encyclopaedic reference to the major mites, described by family in terms of their internal and external morphology, bio-ecology and family systematics. Methods of mite collection and laboratory study is described, as well as species diagnostic characteristics, worldwide distribution, host plants, identification by the type of damage they cause and control strategies, including chemical and biological intervention and integrated pest management measures. Mites of the following families are included: (Eriophyoidea, Tarsonemidae, Tuckerellidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tetranychidae, Acaridae, Penthaleidae). Mites of Economic Plants is an important resource for students of entomology and crop production, and as a thorough reference guide for researchers and field workers involved with mites, crop damage and food production.

No other reference offers such an extensive hands-on guide to the most common stored-product pests. Atlas of Stored-Product Insects and Mites includes photographs and summary information for each of the 235 stored product insect species. Summary information includes common names, synonyms for scientific names, records of geographic distribution, suitability of commodities as insect food and commodity infestation, literature citations for life history studies and a list of natural enemies. Similar summary information is provided for 280 species of mites (Acari) reported to be associated with stored products. The high quality photographs and summary information make this reference essential to the fast and accurate specific identification needed for effective pest management. The authors also cover the tools and information that should be considered when developing a pest management program and provide reference sources for additional information on pest management. Atlas of Stored-Product Insects and Mites will make solving stored-product pest problems faster and easier making this an essential desk reference for anyone working with stored-product insects or mites. Special features High quality color photographs for 235 species of stored product insects Common names and synonyms for 235 insect and 280 mite species Suitability of 537 commodities as food for 84 stored product insect species Summarizes 15,611 infestation records for 1010 commodities reported in the literature References for life history studies of insect and mite species Geographic distribution of each species List of natural enemies Discussion of tools and information needed for pest management An essential reference for: Extension personnel Food industry sanitarians Food industry managers Legislators Pest management professionals Pest management consultants Plant quarantine inspectors Regulators Seed technologists Stored-product entomologist Stored-product acarologists Students Urban entomologists

The words pronounced by Serge Kreiter during the meeting come to mind. They could record exactly the situation of Acarology in Europe and in the World: "I think that in many European countries there are very few full time acarologists. It is very rare to have new positions available . . . . And public money, from the European Community but also from national countries, is very hard to get when you want to work on mites . . . . Could two acarological associations in Europe (Eur. A. Ac. and S. I. A. L. F) work together or, better, get married?" So, the fourth symposium of the European Acarologists has not only been the occasion to have an idea on which direction the research is addressed today, but also it pointed out the difficulties of our "scientific hranch". On the basis of the presentations and invited papers we had evidences of a "new" Acarology based on modern techniques and methods of investigations but also the importance, often sheltered even if of relevant value, of the "old" Acarology made on the alpha taxonomy and basic studies. So, a "new" Acarology needs the "old" one. In this context, the hope to put together the European acarologists has been coming up. This fact, of political meaning, can surely improve the acarological movement and the discussion on this point showed clearly the importance of several other activities and efforts in this direction. We hope that the meeting in Siena will represent a significative stone for the progress of Acarology.