Juli Gould, Kim Hoelmer and John Goolsby, eds.Springer Science + Business Media B.V., 2008, 343 pp., $179 (hardcover), ISBN 978-1-4020-6739-6, e-ISBN 978-1-4020-6740-2

Classical Biological Control ofBemisia tabaci in the United States - A Review of Interagency Research and Implementation is the fourth volume in a series on Progress in Biological Control. The book focuses on the 10-yr span of an interagency whitefly management project (1992-2002) and goes far beyond what is contained in the biological control components of the project's annual reports (e.g., Henneberry et al. 2002). It provides an in-depth review with new information and syntheses on the biological control of this highly polyphagous and widespread pest. The book includes background of the target pest, the development and implementation of a classical biological control strategy, and predictive long-term outcomes on the sustainability of crops in the United States and abroad. Through retrospective discussions on the experiences, challenges, and solutions faced by the whitefly project, the book provides an excellent case study for the power of a massive interagency endeavor that included federal, state, private, and international entities. The content of the book focuses on parasitoids but includes pathogens and predators to a much lesser degree. This book provides useful data and methodology for researchers and integrated pest management practitioners throughout its 18 chapters (plus an epilogue and summary) written by 30 authors.

Additional positive assets of the book are illustrated as follows. The introductory chapter provides a succinct review of the interagency project from the perspective of biological control. Because the whitefly pest is widespread, multiple researchers in diverse locations with differing environments and circumstances used a range of approaches. Thus, some appropriate repetition occur over multiple chapters, and the chapters generally complement and reference one another such that a cohesive unit results. Well written individual chapters are devoted to the systematics of Encarsia and Eretmocerus, species of which are the primary biological control agents presented in the book. These two chapters are among the most informative chapters, and include updated knowledge of the numerous species of Encarsia and Eretmocerus that parasitize Bemisia and other groups. The chapter on molecular characterization is also notably rich in information as it details the novel use of molecular genetic technology (RAPD-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) in classical biological control diagnostics on a grand scale. Moreover, molecular characterization of biological control agents is appropriately noted elsewhere in the book. An excellent comprehensive chapter is devoted to pathogens, although little attention is given to pathogens in the rest of the book. Subjects of the above-mentioned chapters and others including foreign exploration, quarantine, release and recovery, indigenous species and whitefly management with natural enemies are written in a manner that shares knowledge and provides an intellectual stimulus for both novice and experts in the field. Tables, figures, and artwork are effective in the information presented. References follow each chapter, and there is a useful index at the end of the book.

There are a few shortcomings that are worth mentioning. Overall, the chapters could have been enhanced with more updated references. Some introductory statements in chapters are too repetitious and could have been edited out. For example, most chapters restate that B-biotype B. tabaci is synonymous with B. argentifolii. The introductory chapter already identifies them as being synonymous and notes that the former is being used throughout the book.

Occasionally, there are somewhat minor informational discrepancies presented within a chapter. For example, in Chapter 4 the authors state that only eight Encarsia species had been reared exclusively from Bemisia, yet seven are listed. Another example is in Chapter 9, when the authors refer to Table 9.1 and note a high proportion of parasitism by Eretmocerus hayati Zolnerowich & Rose on kale; however, the table does not list data for this species on this crop. Authors of one chapter consistently misspelled the common name sweetpotato whitefly (ESA 2008) as "sweet potato whitefly."

Overall, the book contains few mentions of predators, albeit most of the classical biological control work in this system has focused on parasitoids. Notably, there is no chapter on predators, which otherwise could have allowed the consolidation of predator information which is spread across the book and deficient in methods. Moreover, although the title of Chapter 13 concerns "exotic natural enemies," based on the actual contents, "parasitoids" should have been emphasized in the title rather than "natural enemies."

In sum, the shortcomings of the book are far outweighed by the wealth of information that this book provides. As such, this book is an excellent reference source for the scientific community, action agencies and pest management practitioners.

Alvin M. Simmons
U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, USDA-ARS,
Charleston, SC 29414, E-mail: alvin.simmons@ars.usda.gov.

Journal of Economic Entomology
Vol. 102, No. 4, August 2009, Page 1724 - 1725