Review by Choice Review
Vander Meer draws together a broad range of information from throughout the world on economically important ants. Particular attention is given to the biology and control of fire ants, leaf-cutting ants, and carpenter ants. The book's 67 chapters are grouped into the following sections: ant pests of the world, systematics and morphology, reproduction, natural history and biology, behavioral and chemical ecology, and applied ecology and control. Black-and-white photographs and figures are generally well reproduced. Taken as a whole, this book seems disjointed, with some chapters providing an overview of a topic, whereas others are very specific and restricted in their scope. This result is likely due to the unusually large number of chapters and contributors. However, Applied Myrmecology has succeeded in bringing together, in one place, a wide range of articles related to ant pests. Thus, it will be of primary interest as a technical reference work for research libraries. Undergraduate libraries interested in a general book on ants should obtain B. Holldobler and E.O. Wilson's exquisite book, The Ants (CH, Oct'90). -R. E. Lee Jr., Miami University (OH)
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
