Invasive species, generally, affect economically important crops, thus affecting the livelihoods of millions of people along crop value chains. Typically, invasive species have high migratory capabilities and, because of plant material exchanges made during trade, they cannot be contained by one country. Usually, African countries react after a pest has invaded and established itself in the country, making the cost of mitigating the pest even more expensive. This book presents a pan-African view of the impacts of invasive insect pests on agriculture and of how invasive species impact on productivity in Africa. It not only describes their importance, but also presents a diversity of research findings in the field, ranging from the use of early warning and monitoring systems for quarantine purposes, agricultural extension, all the way to control strategies. The IPM arsenal presented in this book includes the use of botanical bioactive compounds, semiochemicals, resistant varieties, biological control agents such as entomopathogens, endophytes, predators, and natural enemies. Aspects of technology transfer strategies, regional coordination, and farmers’ perceptions have not been overlooked, because these affect the adoption of mitigation strategies. The book also presents measures that would help agricultural research services to estimate the damage and take actions for preparedness and readiness to face invasive insect pests. This starts with a basic knowledge of taxonomy to enable concerned persons to describe the insects and the vast inventory of affected crops. Physiological and ecological aspects of invasive pests are strongly highlighted to strengthen Integrated Pest Management Strategies. The threat of invasive species will remain permanent; therefore, the book encourages knowledge exchange and collaboration between researchers and scientists on the continent, while encouraging the establishment of a platform or a fund for preparedness and rapid response.

Horticultural sector presents many opportunities for economic development and improving livelihood of growers but several factors constrain production and limit the potential for trade of fruits and vegetables. Tephritid fruit flies constitute a major constraint. They cause enormous losses through direct feeding damage and loss of market opportunities through imposition of quarantine restrictions by importing countries to prevent entry and their establishment. In Africa, several native (Ceratitis and Dacus spp) and exotic (Bactrocera and Zeugodacus spp.) species inflict considerable losses to horticulture causing losses ranging from 30-90%. Over the past 10 years of R&D, extensive information has been generated on bioecology and management of several native and exotic fruit flies in Africa. While several specific reviews have addressed various aspects of the biology, ecology and management of economically important tephritid fruit flies; coverage of African native species has been limited largely to Bactrocera oleae and Ceratitis capitata – which are not economically important species in many Africa countries. Indeed, no book exist that have explicitly addressed economically important African fruit flies and none of the various reviews, have specifically focused on the status of the bioecology, economic impact and management of exotic and native fruit flies – including several potentially invasive Dacus species attacking vegetables - in Africa. This book consolidates this status of knowledge and socio-economic impact of various intervention techniques that are currently being applied across Africa. The timing of the book is especially pertinent due to the changing fruit fly landscape in Africa – caused by arrivals of the highly destructive alien invasives (Bactrocera dorsalis, B. zonata, and B. latifrons) - and the priorities African countries have placed recently on export of fruits and vegetables to international markets. This is an important reference material for researchers, academics and students that are keen at improving horticulture and enhancing food and nutrition security in Africa and beyond.

This open access volume presents a comprehensive account of all aspects of biological invasions in South Africa, where research has been conducted over more than three decades, and where bold initiatives have been implemented in attempts to control invasions and to reduce their ecological, economic and social effects. It covers a broad range of themes, including history, policy development and implementation, the status of invasions of animals and plants in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, the development of a robust ecological theory around biological invasions, the effectiveness of management interventions, and scenarios for the future. The South African situation stands out because of the remarkable diversity of the country, and the wide range of problems encountered in its varied ecosystems, which has resulted in a disproportionate investment into both research and management. The South African experience holds many lessons for other parts of the world, and this book should be of immense value to researchers, students, managers, and policy-makers who deal with biological invasions and ecosystem management and conservation in most other regions.

Taking a global perspective, this book examines what will happen to invasive species, including plants, animals and pathogens,with current and expected man-made climate change.

Horticultural sector presents many opportunities for economic development and improving livelihood of growers but several factors constrain production and limit the potential for trade of fruits and vegetables. Tephritid fruit flies constitute a major constraint. They cause enormous losses through direct feeding damage and loss of market opportunities through imposition of quarantine restrictions by importing countries to prevent entry and their establishment. In Africa, several native (Ceratitis and Dacus spp) and exotic (Bactrocera and Zeugodacus spp.) species inflict considerable losses to horticulture causing losses ranging from 30-90%. Over the past 10 years of R&D, extensive information has been generated on bioecology and management of several native and exotic fruit flies in Africa. While several specific reviews have addressed various aspects of the biology, ecology and management of economically important tephritid fruit flies; coverage of African native species has been limited largely to Bactrocera oleae and Ceratitis capitata – which are not economically important species in many Africa countries. Indeed, no book exist that have explicitly addressed economically important African fruit flies and none of the various reviews, have specifically focused on the status of the bioecology, economic impact and management of exotic and native fruit flies – including several potentially invasive Dacus species attacking vegetables - in Africa. This book consolidates this status of knowledge and socio-economic impact of various intervention techniques that are currently being applied across Africa. The timing of the book is especially pertinent due to the changing fruit fly landscape in Africa – caused by arrivals of the highly destructive alien invasives (Bactrocera dorsalis, B. zonata, and B. latifrons) - and the priorities African countries have placed recently on export of fruits and vegetables to international markets. This is an important reference material for researchers, academics and students that are keen at improving horticulture and enhancing food and nutrition security in Africa and beyond.

This open access book describes the serious threat of invasive species to native ecosystems. Invasive species have caused and will continue to cause enormous ecological and economic damage with ever increasing world trade. This multi-disciplinary book, written by over 100 national experts, presents the latest research on a wide range of natural science and social science fields that explore the ecology, impacts, and practical tools for management of invasive species. It covers species of all taxonomic groups from insects and pathogens, to plants, vertebrates, and aquatic organisms that impact a diversity of habitats in forests, rangelands and grasslands of the United States. It is well-illustrated, provides summaries of the most important invasive species and issues impacting all regions of the country, and includes a comprehensive primary reference list for each topic. This scientific synthesis provides the cultural, economic, scientific and social context for addressing environmental challenges posed by invasive species and will be a valuable resource for scholars, policy makers, natural resource managers and practitioners.

Increasing concerns about the impact of pesticide use on biodiversity and human health, and increasing demand for products from biodiversity-friendly production systems, including organic systems, have led to increasing interest in alternative methods of pest control, including the use of biological control agents. This paper presents an overview of the current status of BCAs and biostimulants (focusing only on micro-organisms and invertebrates) and their management, needs and challenge in termsof improving their management and potential opportunities for the Commission and its Members to contribute to efforts to address these needs and challenges. The scope covers all the sectors of agriculture as defined by FAO, i.e. crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture.