Plant Pests

Ever since man first cultivated plants and grew crops, insects, mites and other creatures have risen to prominence as pests, but it is only throughout the last two centuries that we have come to study them in any detail.

Whereas in the past, emphasis has mainly been placed on ways to protect cultivated plants from attack or damage, nowadays our over-reliance on pesticides has been replaced by a far more enlightened approach to plant protection. Though chemical pesticides still have a role to play, environmental aspects and non-chemical means of pest control have become equally, if not more, important. This requires a greater appreciation of ecosystems, coupled with a greater understanding of individual pests, including their habits and their role in the environment.
Drawing on a lifetime of experience, David V. Alford provides a fascinating account of the natural history of the insects and mites that inhabit our farms and gardens, and feed on our cultivated plants. He shows how and why the different operations of cultivation affect their world, and why plant pests should not be viewed as different from other wildlife. Coverage of pests includes aliens, and although emphasis is placed mainly on arable and horticultural field crops, pests of protected crops - both edible and non-edible - are also included. Details of pest life cycles, status, distribution and the damage they cause are given, and natural enemies of pests are examined. The author also explores the impact of pesticides, climate change and evolving crop management practices.

Contents include coverage on:

Pests of cereals
Pests of oilseed rape and other oil and brassica seed crops
Pests of forage and fodder crops, including grassland
Pests of potatoes
Pests of sugar beet and related root crops
Pests of field vegetables
Pests of miscellaneous crops
Pests of orchard fruits, nuts and hops
Pests of bush fruits, cane fruits and grapevines
Pests of strawberries
Pests of outdoor flowers, bulbs and corms
Pests of hardy ornamentals and nursery stock
Pests of protected crops
Pest management in field crops
Appendix I: List of Pests
Appendix II: List of Natural Enemies

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David Alford has almost 30 years' experience in applied entomology as a government scientist and is currently a Director of the British Crop Production Council - formerly the British Crop Protection Council. He is also on the Governing Board of IAPPS (International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences). In addition to UK agriculture and horticulture, David also has field experience in mainland Europe and is currently a Corresponding Member of the DPG (Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft).