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.
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.
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.
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.
Natural Enemies Handbook
First Edition, 1998, Flint & Dreistadt — ISBN: 1-879906-41-4. A skinny book but packed with great info.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Bug Cards
First Edition, 2001, Hofer & Headrick — Item #B054. A small, handy but simplistic ID guide. Laminated, good for field use.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What’s Eating Your House Plants?
First Edition, 1977, Jordan — ISBN: 0-87857-257-0. Basic. A beginner’s guide to insect pests.
Bugs, Slugs, & Other Thugs
First Edition, 1991, Hart — ISBN: 0-88266-664-9. Basic. A beginner’s guide to insect pests.
The Gardener’s Bug Book
First Edition, 1994, Pleasant — ISBN: 0-88266-609-6. Basic. A beginner’s guide to insect pests.
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.
Tropical Foliage Disorders
First Edition, 2002, Griffith — ISBN: 1883052-30-0. A guide to what’s ailing your tropical plants.
Grower Talks on Pest Control
First Edition, 2001, Blanchette — ISBN: 1-883052-26-2. “GrowerTalks,” growers listen. Another fine Ball title. A full look.
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.
Compendium of Rose Diseases
First Edition, 1983, Horst — ISBN: 0-89054-052-7. Another good disease title. Specific to roses.
Foliage Plant Diseases
First Edition, 1997, Chase — ISBN: 0-89054-179-5. Another good disease title. Specific to foliage.
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…
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.
Rodale’s Landscape Problem Solver
First Edition, 1989, Ball & Ball — ISBN: 0-87857-802-1. A landscape specific guide. Not a bad title.
Rodale’s All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
First Edition, 1992, edited by Bradley & Ellis — ISBN: 0-87857-999-0. This is ancient and probably out of print. It was really a good book, though. Gave a broad view of everything.
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.
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.
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.