Mites and ticks are everywhere and acarologists go after them – some explore their bewildering diversity, others try to understand their how and why. For the past 50 years, the International Congress of Acarology has been the forum for worldwide communication on the knowledge of Acari, helping researchers and students to look beyond their disciplines. Many mites and ticks are economic factors as they are pests of agricultural, veterinary and medical importance, and several species have become model organisms in modern biology. The 96 contributions to Trends in Acarology – reflecting fields as molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pathology, ecology, evolutionary biology, systematic biology, soil biology, plant protection, pest control and epidemiology – have been reviewed and carefully edited. This volume contains a wealth of new information, that may stimulate research for many years to come.

Acarology - the study of mites and ticks, is a subdiscipline of Zoology, and is many times considered in the field of Entomology (the study of insects). Mites and ticks are distributed throughout the world and inhabit almost every ecosystem (both terrestrial and aquatic) including grassland soils. More than 55,000 species of mites and ticks are already described. Mites and ticks directly affects humans as pests of different crops, fruit plants, vegetable crops and field crops; as parasites of human beings, veterinary animals, poultry and pets; pests of stored grains and other products; mushrooms and cheese; and as parasites of honeybees. Mite infestations are responsible for economic losses worth billions of dollars in terms of reduced crop yields and lowered quality of produce. Many species of mites serve as vectors of various plant diseases; some species of ticks cause losses through blood feeding and by transmitting many diseases among man and animals. House-dust mite allergies, and tick bite allergies are also common in many parts of the world.Present Book, "Fundamentals of Applied Acarology," is written keeping in view non-availability of any standard text dealing in different aspects of acarology at one place. Separate chapters in this book are devoted to Importance of Acarology, Historical account, acarine technology, morphology and anatomy of Acari; Feeding, Development and Reproduction. Molecular developments in relation to mites and ticks are also discussed. Role of mites and ticks in Quarantines of plants and animals; forensic/criminal investigations; and importance of accidental acarophagy are discussed in detail. Safe usage of pesticides based on their mode of action (IRAC’s Groups), development of acaricide resistance and measures to mitigate it are discussed. Mite pests of fruit trees, vegetable plants, and floricultural plants; field crops; mite problems in greenhouses/polyhouses; and mite problems encountered under organic cultivation of plants; and their management through minimum usage of pesticides are emphasized. Role of different predaceous mites in controlling plant pests like thrips, aphids and scale insects is elaborately discussed. Biological control of phytophagous mites is discussed in detail. Different animal parasitic mites and ticks are discussed from veterinary and medical point of view.At the end of each chapter, many important references for further reading; and Electronic References (ER) in the form of youtube links and other weblinks are given to understand fully how these tiny creatures look like; behave, feed and reproduce; nature of damage they cause to plants and animals; and measures to mitigate them. Weblinks will stimulate interest in the readers for more information about different mites and ticks. The knowledge contained in the book may prove as best material for "General and Applied Acarology" course for graduate and post-graduate levels, teachers and researchers in entomology, pest control advisors, professional entomologists, pesticide industry managers, policy planners, and others having interest in mites and ticks./div

Pests Control and Acarology presents novel methods adopted in pest management for cereal crops and fruit trees. Each chapter was written by experts in their respective areas, and provides a rigorous review and outline of current trends and future needs, to expedite progress in the field. The book was structured in three sections as follows. The first section introduces the topics and defines concepts of Integrated Pest Management and Biological Control. The second section includes two chapters: the first one discusses a new trap barrier system for rodent pest control in rice and the second one presents methods used in the management of stem borers in cereal crops. The third section presents various topics within the area of Acarology.

Recent Advances in Acarology, Volume I, emerged from the V International Congress of Acarology held at Michigan State University in August 1978. It includes the contents of the symposia and a selection of contributions to the workshops and submitted paper sessions. The book is organized into six parts. Part 1 focuses on the pest management of agricultural mites. Part 2 on the biology of spider mites presents contributions in the areas of male reproductive behavior, silk production, pheromones, the components of reproductive success, and the effects of nutrition and temperature on tetranychid development. Part 3 on stored product acarology includes papers that reflect a broad understanding of acarine biology, nutrition, biochemistry, systematics, and ecology. Part 4 is devoted to physiology, biochemistry, and toxicology. It includes reports on the use of low-energy laser-generated x rays to measure salt concentrations in ducts of living mites; the use of labeled butanediol in metabolism studies of acarid mites; and electron microscope studies of functional morphology of ticks. Part 5 on ecology, bionomics, and behavior includes studies on the developmental cycle of sponge-associated water mites; behavior of tick larvae in relation to C02; and the influence of maternal age on the sex ratio of the progeny of a tetranychid. Part 6 presents research on soil mite biology.

Recent Advances in Acarology, Volume II, had its inception in the V International Congress of Acarology held at Michigan State University in August 1978. This two-volume work includes the contents of the symposia and a selection of contributions to the workshops and submitted paper sessions. These volumes examine subjects such as strategies in pest management of mites and ticks, topics encompassing pheromone communication, resistance of mites and ticks to acaricides, nonchemical control of ticks, new acaricides, nutritional ecology/control, and biological control. This book is devoted primarily to medical and veterinary acarology: biology, ecology, management, disease transmission, and pheromonal communication. It also contains a section covering systematics, morphology, and evolution; and a section on the evolution of hosts and their parasites. Management strategies for medical and veterinary acari are dependent on sound investigations of biology and ecology. Such investigations, beginning with contributions on the biology of spotted fever ticks, are discussed. It sets forth appropriate methodology for ecological studies, describes the zoogeography and biological adaptations of one species, and reviews the ecological associations of the two.

Held in Prague, August 31-September 6, 1971

Acarology: Proceedings of the 10th International Congress is a timely overview of the current international research mites and ticks. The outcome of a conference of leading acarologists, it presents major reviews of all current areas of research including: *advances in acarine biodiversity and systematics. *human and livestock diseases transmitted by ticks and other parasitic mites. *interactions between mites and their food plants. *mites as biological control agents. *use of genetic markers in mite population studies. *mites as bioindicators. *ecology and biology of soil mites. *mite evolutionary ecology and reproduction. *advances in acarine diversity and systematics. The 90 papers in the book represent some of the best research from leading international researchers from over 50 countries, and helps to establish priorities for future research. All papers have been peer reviewed and edited. Acarology is a comprehensive and important addition to the world literature on mites, and is an essential addition to all acarological and entomological reference collections.