Integrated Pest Management for Developing Countries

Book excerpt: Pests are defined purely from anthropocentric perspective. An organism is not considered a pest until its activities and life processes interfere with human health, convenience, comfort or profits. The importance of health education in the control of vector-borne diseases cannot be overstated. This should particularly be targeted at rural communities where the scourges of these diseases are most pronounced. With adequate commitment by the government at the federal, state and local levels as well as from private sectors, considerable success could be achieved in the battle against pests. This book represents an excellent addition to the literature on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). A historical overview traces the origins and concepts of pest organisms, their classification and general characteristics and the basic terminologies are given. The philosophy and goal of IPM and specific examples of chemical, cultural, biological, physical and mechanical approaches to IPM are discussed. The book is enriched with accounts of IPM practices and progression in the developing countries and the problems and prospects of implementation and the future of IPM highlighted. Also included is an interesting account of medical important arthropods and their management. A rich bibliography accompanies every chapter.