Pests cause economic damage to crops and stored products, while vectors are responsible for the
transmission of disease-causing agents in human beings and livestock. Although the application of
synthetic pesticides in agriculture has given immediate relief, it has also caused well-known side
effects, leading to a general consensus among entomologists and agriculturists to shift towards
other ecofriendly pest management. Insect natural enemies consisting of predators, parasitoids, and
pathogens have attracted the attention of scientists across the globe. These natural enemies exist in
agroecosystems and suppress the populations of pests. Parasitoids are farmers’ friends and the
most successful group of natural enemies. Highly specialised in their host choice, the female
parasitoid searches for a suitable host to lay eggs and larvae in, on or near the hosts. Exploiting this
potency of parasitoids may yield successful results in controlling notorious pests in an
ecofriendly way.
This book covers information on the important biocontrol agents effective in pest suppression. It
starts with insect parasitic groups followed by specific groups of parasitoids. It is hoped that the book
presents a comprehensive account of beneficial parasitoids and will be useful to undergraduate and
postgraduate students of Entomology, Biological Control, Plant Protection, Agricultural Zoology,
and Zoology, besides those involved in competitive examinations and policy planning.