The Toxicology and Biochemistry of Insecticides

The first book in two decades to address this multi-faceted field, The Toxicology and Biochemistry of Insecticides provides the most up-to-date information on insecticide classification, formulation, mode of action, resistance, metabolism, environmental fate, and regulatory legislation. The book draws on the author’s groundbreaking research in insect detoxification. It discusses mechanisms at the molecular level such as specific enzymes that contribute to insecticide resistance, the modification of which can change insecticide susceptibility and influence host plant selections in phytophagous insects. Beginning with a general introduction, eleven chapters integrate classical toxicology with physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to present a comprehensive look at the field. The book discusses the demand and formulation of pesticides and describes each type from dusts and powders to baits and aerosols. It classifies insecticides by target, chemical compound, and mechanism; evaluates toxicity testing procedures; explains pesticide uptake, mode of action, and metabolism; and explores species differences, resistance, and interactions. It also considers pesticides in the environment and federal and state regulatory legislation and enforcement. A long-awaited, state-of-the-science review on insect toxicology, this indispensable book brings you up-to-date on the many aspects and implications of pesticide use and provides the necessary background and platform from which to conduct future research.