Introduction

Authors: LEPPLA, N - University Of Florida; Morales Ramos, Juan; Shapiro Ilan, David; Rojas, Maria - Guadalupe

Submitted to: Mass Production of Beneficial Organisms: Invertebrates and Entomopathogens
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/10/2021
Publication Date: 9/26/2022
Citation: Leppla, N.C., Morales Ramos, J.A., Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Rojas, M.G. 2022. Introduction. In: Morales-Ramos, J.A., Rojas, M.G., Shapiro-Ilan, D.A., editors. Mass Production of Beneficial Organisms: Invertebrates and Entomopathogens. 2nd edition. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. p.3-12.

Interpretive Summary: This is an introduction for a book that addresses the challenges of mass producing beneficial organisms, particularly arthropods and pathogens for biological control. Production technologies for beneficial organisms often are based on systems originally developed to mass produce insects for pest management, but they have improved with advances in related science and technology. The systems created by these innovations have many comparable production processes, although each is unique to the biology of the species being mass produced. The new methods and materials incorporated into a production system for one species often can be adapted for use with another, thereby advancing the entire field of mass producing beneficial organisms. Thus, the primary purpose of this book is to assemble examples of production systems for arthropods, pathogens, and other beneficial organisms that can be compared and adapted to develop efficient mass production systems.

Technical Abstract: This an introduction to Mass Production of Beneficial Organisms book which contains chapters on producing selected organisms useful to humankind, including arthropods, microorganisms, bees, and earthworms. It is comprised of a series of comprehensive descriptions of the industrial-level production of insects, mites, and pathogens for biological control, and beneficial invertebrate organisms for food, feed, pollination, and other purposes. Additionally, there are reports on artificial diet development and quality assurance for arthropods, as well as entomopathogen production and formulation. The final section covers insects as food for animals, insectivores, and humans, along with solitary bees for pollination and earthworm mass culture. This is a unique assemblage of topics organized around the goal of producing large amounts of organisms for a variety of useful purposes.