Jonathan G. Lundgren
Springer, New York
2009; 453 pp.
ISBN 978-1-4020-9234-3
$199.00, Hardcover

 

The concept of trophic levels is deeply embedded in ecological theory and has created the misconceived perception that primary consumers (herbivores) feed on plants while secondary consumers (carnivores) feed on herbivores in a linear food chain. This view has been criticized by food web ecologists (e.g., Polis and Strong 1996), specifically for communities dominated by terrestrial arthropods (Coll and Guershon 2002). Jonathan Lundgren has continued this train of thought in his recent publication, Relationships of Natural Enemies and Non-Prey Foods. Lundgren’s book might be more aptly titled “Debunking the Myth of Carnivory,” as it aims to overwhelm the reader with evidence for the omnivorous feeding habits of (virtually) all entomophagous arthropods. While the mere existence of omnivores is certainly not a novel concept, Lundgren pushes the bounds by emphasizing just how ubiquitous omnivory is in nature and, conversely, how rare strict carnivory may be (if it occurs at all!).

This book would be useful for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers with an interest in biological control, natural enemy biology, food web dynamics, nutritional ecology, or plant-insect interactions. We read the text as the focus of a graduate discussion seminar and found it quite useful in this context, particularly when supplemented with primary literature. Although we read the book cover-to-cover, it is also likely to serve as a valuable reference tool. For example, those working on seed predation by carabid beetles may not be interested in the nectar and pollen chapters, but would undoubtedly benefit from reading Section III (Granivory) and Chapter 18 (“Biological Control of Weed Seeds in Agriculture Using Omnivorous Insects”).

The book consists of five sections: (1) Glucophagy—floral nectar, extrafloral nectar, and honeydew; (2) Pollinivory—adaptations to pollen feeding, pollen nutrition and defense; (3) Granivory—adaptations to granivory, seed nutrition and defense, seed-associated food bodies, and seed preferences; (4) Fungi & Microorganisms—symbioses with microorganisms; and (5) Applied Aspects of Non-Prey Foods for Natural Enemies. Two themes characterize this book: the first four sections deal with the basic biology of feeding on non-prey foods, separated out by resource type, and section five considers how to incorporate these plant-based foods into biological control programs for herbivorous crop pests and weed seeds. Each of the first four sections begins with a chapter that reviews the evidence for consumption of that resource by various arthropod taxa (i.e., “The Sugar Feeders,” “The Pollen Feeders,” and “The Seed Feeders”).

The book clearly succeeds in providing a comprehensive overview of the field. It offers a systematic review from the standpoint of arthropod nutritional requirements, morphological and sensory adaptations for resource utilization, and enhancing the impact of natural enemies in managed systems. The structure of the book is consistent across chapters, which can be viewed as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows readers to easily locate specific information and topics of interest if they are jumping from chapter to chapter. On the other hand, if you are reading the book from beginning to end, this makes the text somewhat repetitive. Fortunately, Lundgren has an engaging and lively style of writing that keeps the reader hooked throughout. We were thoroughly entertained by discussions of drunken pollinators, ground beetle larval seed caches, and the “sexiness” of domestication of sternorrhynchans by ants. Another stylistic feature of the writing that we enjoyed was the inclusion of historical references in each chapter, which ranged from biblical quotes to that of scientists and naturalists engaged in natural enemy research during the past several centuries.

There are few weaknesses that we were able to identify. Some of the writing can be overly speculative, but this is less a criticism of the author and more an indication of the state of knowledge in the field. Many unknowns yet remain and there is still much to be discovered. A beginning graduate student could likely identify a dozen or more interesting Ph.D. projects in a cursory glance of this text. At $200, the book is quite expensive, and it would be convenient if Springer offered a cheaper, soft-cover version of this and others in the Progress in Biological Control series in the future.

In terms of overlap with existing texts, Lundgren’s book is roughly similar to Barbosa (1998), Picket and Bugg (1998), and especially Wäckers et al. (2005). However, unlike these texts, all of which are edited contributions, Lundgren is the sole author of this book, providing a level of fluidity and organization that is not possible in edited volumes where each chapter is written by a different author. Moreover, in contrast to Wäckers et al. (2005), Lundgren takes on a series of topics not covered in the former, such as seeds, fungi, and microorganisms.

To conclude, Relationships of Natural Enemies of Non-Prey Foods is a must-read for those involved with biological control and arthropod pest management in general. It shatters stereotypes of carnivorous insects that have become passé in light of our current understanding of omnivory. The book is guaranteed to leave you with a renewed appreciation for the complexity of food webs, even in simplified agricultural systems, and the challenges associated with manipulating them in pest management.

 

References Cited

Barbosa, P. 1998. Conservation biological control. Academic Press, San Diego, USA.

Coll, M. and M. Guershon. 2002. Omnivory in terrestrial arthropods: mixing plant and prey diets. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 47: 267-97.

Pickett, C. H. and R. L. Bugg. 1998.Enhancing biological control: habitat management to promote natural enemies of agricultural pests. University of California Press, Berkeley, USA.

Polis, G. A. and D. R. Strong. 1996.Food web complexity and community dynamics. Am. Nat. 147: 813-846.

Wäckers, F. L., P. C. J. van Rijn, and J. Bruin. 2005.Plant-provided food for carnivorous insects: a protective mutualism and its applications. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

 

Ian Kaplan, Gina Angelella, Carmen Blubaugh, Joseph Braasch, Victoria Caceres, Julia Prado, Carlos Quesada, Clifford S. Sadof, Madeline Spigler, Sarah Thompson

Department of Entomology
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
E-mail: ikaplan@purdue.edu

American Entomologist
Vol. 57, No.2, Summer 2011

 

 

Disclaimer:Jonathan G. Lundgren is the Book Reviews Editor for American Entomologist and was not involved in the editing of this book review.