Agricultural Acarology

Marjorie A. Hoy, Ph.D., received her B.A. degree in zoology and entomology at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in entomology at the University of California at Berkeley, where she specialized in acarology, biological control, insect ecology, genetics, and evolution. In 1992, she took a position as Eminent Scholar of Biological Control at the University of Florida, Gainesville, where she has conducted classical biological control of citrus pests and of red palm mite. She has published over 350 scientific papers and book chapters and written two editions of Insect Molecular Genetics. Currently, she teaches a course in agricultural acarology to students in entomology and the Doctor of Plant Medicine program at the University of Florida.

• Introduction to Acarology: General Introduction to Acarology. The Relationship of Mites to Other Arthropods. Basic Structure and Function of Mites. Collection, Identification and Culturing of Mites. Integrated Mite Management Strategy and Tactics. The Strategy of Integrated Mite Management. Pest Mites and Their Natural Enemies on Plants: Tetranychidae: Premier Plant Pests. The Tarsonemidae. The Eriophyoidea: The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown. The Tenuipalpidae (Flat or False Spider Mites) as Pests. The Penthaleidae. Friends or Foes? The Phytoseiidae: Effective Natural Enemies. Predatory Insects and Plant-Feeding Mites. Pathogens and Symbionts of Mites and Ticks. Exemplars of Integrated Mite Management Programs for Plant-Feeding Mites: Classical Biological Control of the Cassava Green Mite in Africa. Integrated Mite Management in Washington Apple OrchardsIntegrated Mite Management in California Almonds. Integrated Mite Management in Citrus in Florida and California. Managing Mites on Ornamental Plants. Soil Mites and Agriculture: Pest Mites of Honey Bees: Tracheal Mite. Parasitic Mites of Mammals and Birds: Ticks (Argasidae and Ixodidae). Pest Mites of Farm and Companion Animals. Pest Mites of Stored Products and Households: Post-Harvest Pest Mites. Dust Mites (Pyroglyphidae). Some General Conclusions About Integrated Mite Management.

"Although mites and ticks are significant as plant and animal pests, vectors of human diseases, and biological control agents, most economic entomologists and pest managers have rather superficial knowledge of their basic structure, function and identification, and their similarities to and differences from the insects. Hoy’s book represents a major contribution to acarology and Integrated Pest Management by one of the preeminent contemporary authorities in both areas."Hoy’s Agricultural Acarology: Introduction to Integrated Mite Management is a welcome addition to these classic works, updating many aspects of the earlier texts, particularly as they relate to management, while establishing the comprehensive background necessary to develop and implement an IMM approach. This book would be an excellent basis for a course in agricultural acarology, or a supplementary reference for a course in arthropod pest management."—Frank G. Zalom, Journal of Economic Entomology, 105(1):295-296., 2012."As fewer courses in acarology are being taught in universities and fewer taxonomists are available to assist in mite identification, Hoy (University of Florida-Gainesville) provides pest-control workers and students with tools to manage mite pests in agriculture. Her emphasis is integrated pest management rather than a chemical-based approach, and pays a lot of attention to knowing the biology, ecology, and behavior of pest and beneficial mites well enough to implement biological controls in most or all situations. After introducing macrology and integrated mite management, she looks at pest mites and their natural enemies on plants, exemplars of integrated management programs for plant-feeding mites, soil mites, pest mites of honey bees, parasitic mites of mammals and birds, and pest mites of stored products and households."—Book News, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2011