Page Intro: If you’re exploring biocontrol and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), what follows are some books you should consider reading if you can find them. Everything is here except the hands-on experience. Need a source, you can try our Online Shopping Educational section for starters, or check with your local bookstore. This page is broken down into two parts. First we feature books we offer, then we there those publications that we don’t or those that are out of circulation.
Attention Publishers and Authors: Book reviews needed to supplement our scant information. This page is incomplete.
Available Publications
These must-read publications are available online.
Rodale’s Controlling Pests & Diseases
First Edition, 1994, Michalak & Gilkeson — ISBN: 0-87596-612-8. A weak source of information, but with some of the best photos out there. Buy Rodale’s Controlling Pests & Diseases online now!
Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect & Disease Control
First Edition, edited by Ellis & Bradley — ISBN: 0-87596-124-X. A really complete guide. Everyone should have this title. Buy the Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect & Disease Control online now!
Knowing & Recognizing
Second Edition, 2004, Malais & Ravensberg — ISBN 905439126-X. A really fine book. Our friends at Koppert must be very proud to turn out such a work. Buy Knowing & Recognizing online now!
The Gardener’s Guide to Plant Diseases
First Edition, 1995, Pleasant — ISBN: 0-88266-274-0. If this book had photos it would be number one. As it is, still a great resource. Buy The Gardener’s Guide to Plant Diseases online now!
Natural Enemies Handbook
First Edition, 1998, Flint & Dreistadt — ISBN: 1-879906-41-4. A skinny book but packed with great info (a companion slide set is available for it). Buy Natural Enemies Handbook online now!
IPM for Floriculture and Nurseries
First Edition, 1998, Dreistadt, Clark, & Flint — ISBN: 1-879906-46-5. This one’s a fat book, and like the title above, it’s packed with an even larger quantity of great info (a companion slide set is available for it). Buy IPM for Floriculture and Nurseries online now!
Ball Field Guide to Diseases of Greenhouse Ornamentals
First Edition, 1992, Daughtrey & Chase — ISBN: 0-9626796-3-1. A very technical and worthwhile disease guide. Buy the Ball Field Guide to Diseases of Greenhouse Ornamentals online now!
Pests & Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials: The Biological Approach
First Edition, 1999, Gill, Clement & Dutky — ISBN: 1-883052-20-3. So many great books out there… this is no exception. Buy Pests & Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials: The Biological Approach online now!
Diseases of Annuals and Perennials, A Ball Guide
First Edition, 1995, Chase, Daughtrey, & Simone — ISBN: 1-883052-08-4. Another good disease guide. The photos are better in the other Ball guide mentioned. Buy Diseases of Annuals and Perennials, A Ball Guide online now!
Photographic Atlas of Entomology & Guide to Insect Identification
First Edition, 2000, Castner — ISBN: 0-9625150-4-3. This is an exceptional identification guide. Basic to somewhat complex… it covers the field well. Buy the Photographic Atlas of Entomology & Guide to Insect Identification online now!
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Other Publications
These must-read publications are out-of-print, out-of-circulation, or simply not available through us.
Ball Pest and Disease Manual
Second Edition, 1997, Powell & Lindquist — ISBN: 958-95951-0-3. A great pest and disease reference for flower and foliage crops. Used to be a first-read title. Out of print.
The Bug Cards
First Edition, 2001, Hofer & Headrick — Item #B054. A small, handy but simplistic ID guide. Laminated, good for field use. Out of print.
Ball Identification Guide to Greenhouse Pests and Beneficials
First Edition, 1998, Gill & Sanderson — ISBN: 1-883052-17-3. This is a really good book I was introduced to a few years ago. Valuable. Out of print.
Common-Sense Pest Control
First Edition, 1991, Olkowski, Daar, & Olkowski — ISBN: 0-942391-63-2. Long touted as an IPM bible. No longer in circulation. A real shame. Out of circulation.
Rodale’s Pest & Disease Problem Solver
First Edition, 1996, Gil&keson, Pierce, & Smith — ISBN: 0-87596-850-3. This book is a decent guide, but was redundant. The “Handbook” covers it all. Not available on this site.
Biological Pest Management for Interior Plantscapes
Second Edition, 1987, Steiner & Elliott — ISBN: 0-919975-12-7. This title is out of print, but this little booklet was highly praised. Somewhere out there there’s a copy with your name on it. Out of circulation.
A Guide to the Biological of Greenhouse Aphids
First Edition, 1981, Gilkeson & Klein — ISBN: unknown, sorry. Like the booklet above, this one’s from days of old, but really worthwhile. Out of circulation.
What’s Eating Your House Plants?
First Edition, 1977, Jordan — ISBN: 0-87857-257-0. Basic. A beginner’s guide to insect pests. Not available on this site.
Bugs, Slugs, & Other Thugs
First Edition, 1991, Hart — ISBN: 0-88266-664-9. Basic. A beginner’s guide to insect pests. Not available on this site.
The Gardener’s Bug Book
First Edition, 1994, Pleasant — ISBN: 0-88266-609-6. Basic. A beginner’s guide to insect pests. Not available on this site.
Rodale’s Color Handbook of Garden Insects
First Edition, 1979, Carr — ISBN: 0-87857-250-3 or 0-87857-460-3. Basic. A beginner’s guide to insect pests. Nice Photos. Out of circulation.
Tropical Foliage Disorders
First Edition, 2002, Griffith — ISBN: 1883052-30-0. A guide to what’s ailing your tropical plants. Not available on this site.
Grower Talks on Pest Control
First Edition, 2001, Blanchette — ISBN: 1-883052-26-2. “GrowerTalks,” growers listen. Another fine Ball title. A full look. Not available on this site.
Compendium of Flowering Potted Plant Diseases
First Edition, 1995, Daughtrey, Wick, & Peterson - ISBN: 0-89054-202-3. Another good disease title. Specific to potted plants. Not available on this site.
Compendium of Rose Diseases
First Edition, 1983, Horst — ISBN: 0-89054-052-7. Another good disease title. Specific to roses. Not available on this site.
Foliage Plant Diseases
First Edition, 1997, Chase — ISBN: 0-89054-179-5. Another good disease title. Specific to foliage. Not available on this site.
The Pesticide Book
First Edition, 2000, Ware — ISBN: 0-913702-63-3. What’s this book doing here? Oh, well, if you need info on pesticides… Not available on this site.
Alternatives to Insecticides for Managing Vegetable Insects
First Edition, 1998, Stoner — ISBN: 0-935817-49-2. Outside the mainstream? This book may be perfect for you. Not available on this site.
Rodale’s Landscape Problem Solver
First Edition, 1989, Ball & Ball — ISBN: 0-87857-802-1. A landscape specific guide. Not a bad title. Not available on this site.
Rodale’s All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
First Edition, 1992, edited by Bradley & Ellis — ISBN: 0-87857-999-0. This is ancient and I suspect out of print. It was really a good book, though. Gave a broad view of everything. Not available on this site.
Biological Control in the Western United States
University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources — Publication #3361. A UC title specific to Western states biocontrol and IPM. Not available on this site.
Pests of the Garden and Small Farm Second Edition
University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources — Publication #3332. A UC title specific to garden and small farm biocontrol and IPM. Not available on this site.
Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs
University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources — Publication #3359. A UC title specific to landscape biocontrol and IPM. Not available on this site.
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