Biocontrol Agents

Dr. Athanassiou is a Professor of Entomology at the Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Greece. He is internationally recognized for his research on chemical and non-chemical control of stored product insects and mites, and the development of sampling methods in post-harvest entomology. Edwin Lewis is a professor and has served as head of the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology at the University of Idaho (UI); he currently is the co-director of the Center for Health in the Human Ecosystem, also at UI. Lewis' research focuses on biological control of insects using entomopathogens, management of plant-parasitic nematodes, animal behavior, and soil ecology. He has published more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles, 18 book chapters, 2 edited books and is inventor on 2 patents. Selected awards include Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management (Pacific Branch, ESA) and >$4 million in grant support. He served as subject editor for the Journal of Nematology and subject editor and editor-in-chief for Biological Control. His teaching commitments have included Behavioral Ecology of Insects, Pesticides in the Environment, Parasites and Civilization, Biological Control and several research seminars.

• PART I: BENEFICIAL NEMATODES AND CROP PROTECTION 1: Beneficial Nematodes in Agroecosystem: A global perspective 2: Beneficial Nematodes and the Changing Scope of Crop Protection PART II: ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES - MORPHOLOGY, TAXONOMY, BIOLOGY AND DIVERSITY 3: Entomopathogenic Nematodes of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae: Morphology and Taxonomy 4: Entomopathogenic Nematodes: General Biology and Behaviour 5: Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Ecology, Diversity and Geographical Distribution 6: Molecular Systematics and Phylogenetic reconstruction of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis PART III: ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES AND THEIR SYMBIOTIC BACTERIA AGAINST CROP INSECT PESTS 7: Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Lepidoptran Insect Pests 8: Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Coleopteran Pests 9: Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Dipteran Pests 10: Control of Stored Grain Pests by Entomopathogenic Nematodes 11: Toxic Secretions of Xenorhabdus and its Efficacy against Crop Insect Pests 12: Toxic Secretions of Photorhabdus and its Efficacy against Crop Insect Pests 13: Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Mass Production, Formulation and Application Part IV: ROLE OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES IN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 14: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in the USA 15: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in Canada 16: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in Argentina 17: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in Brazil 18: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in India 19: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in Pakistan 20: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in South Africa 21: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in Italy 22: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in Poland 23: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in China 24: Status of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Integrated Pest Management Strategies in Egypt Part V: GENETICS FOR ENHANCING EFFICACY IN ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES 25: Genetic Improvement of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for Enhanced Biological Control 26: Breeding of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for enhanced Insect Pest suppression Part VI: SLUG PARASITIC NEMATODES 27: Slug Parasitic Nematodes: Biology, Parasitism, Production and Application 28: The Discovery and Commercialization of a Slug Parasitic Nematode 29: Phasmarhabditis: The Slug and Snail Parasitic Nematodes in North America Part VII: COMMERCIALIZATION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS 30: Compatibility between Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Phytopharmaceuticals 31: Strategies for making Entomopathogenic Nematodes a Cost-Effective Biocontrol Agent 32: Future thrusts in expanding the use of entomopathogenic and slug parasitic nematodes in agriculture