This edited book highlights the latest information on the use of nanotechnology, satellite technology, and biotechnological tools in pest management. It covers the role of climate change and ecology in managing pests and also their molecular identification. Other methods that the book encompasses are organic pest management, host-plant resistance, semiochemicals, and bio-control technology. The book also covers insect pollinators which play important role for fruits in horticultural crop production. Intensive and extensive cultivation of horticultural crops lead to serious pest problem. Climatic conditions in India and elsewhere due to which new pests have emerged that causes severe damage to the horticultural crops. In response to this, researchers have developed new techniques to fight pests and their growing resistance to pesticides. This book covers the latest information on identity, biology, damage, seasonal development, and pest management of the horticultural crop pests. It serves to be an essential tool for horticultural professionals, including development officers, horticulturists, field-level extension workers, nurserymen, planters, and entomologists, and is a valuable source of reference for relevant researchers, teachers, and students in the region.

This edited book highlights the latest information on the use of nanotechnology, satellite technology, and biotechnological tools in pest management. It covers the role of climate change and ecology in managing pests and also their molecular identification. Other methods that the book encompasses are organic pest management, host-plant resistance, semiochemicals, and bio-control technology. The book also covers insect pollinators which play important role for fruits in horticultural crop production. Intensive and extensive cultivation of horticultural crops lead to serious pest problem. Climatic conditions in India and elsewhere due to which new pests have emerged that causes severe damage to the horticultural crops. In response to this, researchers have developed new techniques to fight pests and their growing resistance to pesticides. This book covers the latest information on identity, biology, damage, seasonal development, and pest management of the horticultural crop pests. It serves to be an essential tool for horticultural professionals, including development officers, horticulturists, field-level extension workers, nurserymen, planters, and entomologists, and is a valuable source of reference for relevant researchers, teachers, and students in the region.

Horticulture in India is fast emerging as a major commercial venture, because of higher remuneration per unit area and the realization that consumption of fruits and vegetables is essential for health and nutrition. In the last one decade, export potential of horticultural crops has significantly increased attracting even multinationals into floriculture, processing and value added products. Productivity of horticultural crops in India is relatively low compared to other countries. Of the several factors responsible for lower productivity of horticultural crops, pests (insect, mite and vertebrate pests) are considered as important limiting factors. The annual losses due to pests to all the crops in India was estimated at Rs. 60,000 million in 1983, which at today’s prices could exceed Rs. 200,000 million. The information on pests (insect, mite and vertebrate pests) in horticultural crops is very much scattered. There is no such book at present which comprehensively and exclusively deals with the above aspects on horticultural crops. The present book deals with geographical distribution, damage, host range, biology, predisposing factors, and management of insect, mite and vertebrate pests in horticultural crops in detail using regulatory, physical, cultural, chemical, biological, host plant resistance and integrated methods. The book is extensively illustrated with excellent quality photographs enhancing the quality of publication. This book is a practical guide to practicing farmers of horticultural crops. Further, it is a useful reference to policy makers, research and extension workers and students. The material can also be used for teaching undergraduate and post-graduate courses.

This book has been written, primarily due to my own felt need to have a comprehensive text book on the pests of horticultural crops and methods to manage it, in the integrated way. Due to the widespread use of digital color photography and the good resolution that you get in even the basic level digital cameras, it is possible to get good photos. It was thus more of a need to have a text book to teach the UG and PG students, that this book was written. It was also necessary that any practicing field level worker like officers of the state department of Agriculture and commodity boards, and every practicing farmer with an ability to read English text book, should be guided into the basic facts about the pests of crops. It is most likely that most of the information is available in this book itself, as pest of some other crop. It will then be possible to read on the pest in that, and manage the pest effectively using the latest techniques available to the crop management expert.

The book entitled "Text Book on - Integrated Pest Management of Horticultural Crops," is thoroughly written as a text for undergraduate level courses in insect pest management . In part one of the book there are 11 chapters which present precise and reasonable comprehensive review of concepts and components of Integrated Pest Management, thus making the text an excellent coverage of the tactics and strategies used in integrated pest management (IPM). The Part Two contains 20 chapters that deal with IPM of major economic horticultural crops in India, each presenting applicable summaries of identification, nature of damage, symptoms and updated IPM measures . Colour pictures, tables, and illustrations are helpful supplements to the written text. The book culminates in Part three dedicated to students as it includes the Objective Entomology Questions with key towards preparation for Competitive examinations viz., ICAR JRF/SRF/NET/ARS/SAU exams in India.

This book is a compilation of information on all basic aspects of mealybugs, as well as management strategies for mealybug species affecting different crop plants in different countries. It highlights the latest information on morphology, cytogenetics, taxonomy, molecular characterization, biology, damage, ecology, natural enemies, ant association, control measures, insecticide resistance and pheromones – essential aspects which will equip researchers to pursue further research on mealybugs. The book examines current trends in the management of mealybugs for a variety of agricultural and horticultural crops, forest plants and mulberry in different countries, while also addressing the negative effects of chemical control methods and presenting success stories of mealybug control that utilize their natural enemies. It offers a valuable guide for crop growers, government officials and other stakeholders in the industry, as well as researchers and students engaged in related research and development activities.

This collection reviews current advances in integrated pest management (IPM) for horticultural crops, including the use of biological control mechanisms, technological developments such as proximal sensors, agronomic practices and physical control.