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Why pest management needs behavioral ecology and vice versa
Author(s) -
ROITBERG Bernard D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
entomological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1748-5967
pISSN - 1738-2297
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5967.2007.00045.x
Subject(s) - integrated pest management , ecology , exploit , pest analysis , biology , behavioral ecology , animal behavior , kairomone , pest control , computer science , predation , computer security , zoology , botany
Behavior manipulation is becoming an accepted tactic in pest management, however, there are many ways in which the approach can be improved. In this review, I explain how and why insect behavioral response to various stimuli can vary dramatically under different conditions and that it is this variable response that must be understood before behavior manipulation becomes widely accepted in pest management programs. I propose that entomologists use concepts from behavioral ecology to manipulate pest behavior in a predictable manner. The key is to study behaviors that maximize fitness in natural environments and then exploit these behaviors in agriculture. I provide examples from a range of behavior manipulation tactics, including use of attracticides, kairomone‐mediated biological control, use of marking pheromones, and push‐pull manipulation.