This single volume describes the animals that are most injurious and costly to humans, examining the important roles of these pests throughout history and the implications of the never-ending wars we wage against the natural world.• Includes more than 60 photographs of the pests in question as well as illustrations that highlight topics discussed throughout the book• Contains more than 50 sidebars that provide greater detail and showcase the role pests play in history and current events to promote critical thinking• A substantial bibliography provides readers with starting points for further reading• A glossary defines specialist terminology