The abundance of insects can change dramatically from generation to generation; these generational changes may occur within a growing season or over a period of years. Such extraordinary density changes or "outbreaks" may be abrupt and ostensibly random, or population peaks may occur in a more or less cyclic fashion. They can be hugely destructive when the insect is a crop pest or carries diseases of humans, farm animals, or wildlife. Knowledge of these types of population dynamics and computer models that may help predict when they occur are very important.

This important new book revisits a subject not thoroughly discussed in such a publication since 1988 and brings an international scale to the issue of insect outbreaks.

Insect Outbreaks Revisited is intended for senior undergraduate and graduate students in ecology, population biology and entomology, as well as government and industry scientists doing research on pests, land managers, pest management personnel, extension personnel, conservation biologists and ecologists, and state, county and district foresters.

In 1987 a book called Insect Outbreaks was published and became a "classic" in its field. Over the last two decades significant advances have been made in our understanding of certain aspects of insect outbreak dynamics and outbreak species and so, in this new volume, the subject is thoroughly reviewed.

Whether you are interested in cutting-edge design of agroecosystems for a nation's food security, modelling the spread of invasive insects under climate change scenarios, quelling devastating urban tree die-offs through innovation rather than toxic materials, probing the powerful secrets of the microbial community in an insect's gut, or discovering the truth about genetically-modified pesticidal plants - Insect Outbreaks Revisited will answer your questions and stimulate new ideas. With chapters by top scientists and rising stars in insect physiology, evolution, population dynamics and ecology, this book provides a stimulating collection of perspectives on why and when to expect outbreaks of insects in managed and unmanaged ecosystems, what to focus on as causes, and how to manage and mitigate any adverse consequences.