Insect pest management is a constant in our lives, whether we are protecting our gardens, our agricultural crops, or our family and pets. A typical first reaction is to use pesticides, but another tool - biological control - has been in use for over 100 years, and can be just as effective, if not more so. Biological control typically has been characterized as the anti-pesticide; but it is so much more than that. Biological control has played an integral part in the development of our modern day agricultural production and is a major factor in the integrated approach to pest management that allows us to successfully grow plants of all kinds. Biological control also is much more than simply tossing a few praying mantis or ladybugs at a perceived pest problem and walking away feeling good. Biological control is a process that takes commitment and understanding. Thus, The Biological Control Companion - an easy-to-understand guide to the complexities of pest biology and management. The key for any practitioner of biological control is to have a deep appreciation for and keen awareness of natural control and the rules of predator / prey engagement, because it is these rules that you will be manipulating in the arena of man-made ecosystems to restore and maintain balance among its interconnected constituents. Seems daunting, but this book, with full-color illustrations will help bring concepts and creepy crawlies to life, and place into your hands the tools you need to understand how biological control works, why its role in managing pests is crucial to the future success of global agriculture, and how it can benefit your own home and garden.