A book about the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and huanglongbing (HLB), edited by Jawwad Qureshi and the late Phil Stansly, was recently published by the Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI). Qureshi is an entomologist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS); Stansly was also a UF/IFAS entomologist. The book is Asian Citrus Psyllid: Biology, Ecology and Management of the Huanglongbing Vector.
The 312-page book, written by a team of experts on the ACP, gathers everything currently known about the biology and ecology of the pest that spreads HLB. It examines the transmission and acquisition processes of the pathogen, and looks at current management practices and their effectiveness.
The potential for new, innovative management techniques is also described, along with the economic implications of managing the rapidly establishing disease.
“This book was long due considering the significance of this vector pathogen complex, threat to the world citrus, and knowledge developed during the past century and particularly over the last two decades,” Qureshi said.
He recalled that he organized a symposium on ACP and HLB at the 2012 annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America. “Phil was co-organizer with me in this symposium. I was interested in initiating this project (the book) at that time, but we decided to wait a few more years. Later on, we discussed this idea with CABI, the organization where I started my professional career and worked for several years in multiple crops developing integrated and sustainable pest management systems.”
“We received some drafts of the book chapters in 2017 and started editing, but most action started in 2018,” Qureshi said. “Phil was involved in planning and co-editing the initial versions of the chapters but then I had to handle several versions of those chapters and new (ones) myself after he passed away.”
Qureshi said he and Stansly wanted to put together the first book on ACP and HLB that would be “useful for researchers of entomology and related disciplines, students, agricultural scientists and professionals, Extension agents and pest management consultants.”
“I worked with Phil on several projects in which either he or myself was the lead,” Qureshi recalled. “We worked on several aspects of cultural, biological and chemical methods of ACP control. Phil was a great colleague and researcher. He was always willing to help growers and interested in doing applied work in collaboration with growers. That is why you see lots of work from us on the applied side of ACP management, both biological and chemical control. I always enjoyed my time with him.”
Click here to purchase the book.
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