Insect outbreaks and their management

Abstract

Insect populations like all animal populations are governed by their innate capacity to increase as influenced by various abiotic and biotic factors. The intensification of agriculture and interference in forests have resulted in increasing incidence and outbreaks of a number of insect pests in agro ecosystems and forest ecosystems. In this chapter the historical perspective, reasons of outbreak of pests, theories of outbreaks, insect outbreaks in forest and agro ecosystem and management of outbreaks are covered, citing examples.