The Insects

This established, popular textbook provides a stimulating and comprehensive introduction to the insects, the animals that represent over half of the planet's biological diversity. In this new fourth edition, the authors introduce the key features of insect structure, function, behavior, ecology and classification, placed within the latest ideas on insect evolution. Much of the book is organised around major biological themes - living on the ground, in water, on plants, in colonies, and as predators, parasites/parasitoids and prey. A strong evolutionary theme is maintained throughout. The ever-growing economic importance of insects is emphasized in new boxes on insect pests, and in chapters on medical and veterinary entomology, and pest management. Updated 'taxoboxes' provide concise information on all aspects of each of the 27 major groupings (orders) of insects. Key Features: All chapters thoroughly updated with the latest results from international studies Accompanying website with downloadable illustrations and links to video clips All chapters to include new text boxes of topical issues and studies Major revision of systematic and taxonomy chapter Still beautifully illustrated with more new illustrations from the artist, Karina McInnes A companion resources site is available at href="http://www.wiley.com/go/gullan/insects" target="_blank">www.wiley.com/go/gullan/insects. This site includes: Copies of the figures from the book for downloading, along with a PDF of the captions. Colour versions of key figures from the book A list of useful web links for each chapter, selected by the author.

Auteur
Penny Gullan and Peter Cranston are professors in the Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, USA., where they jointly teach undergraduate courses in biodiversity, insect systematics and general entomology, and conduct research on Coccoidea and Chironomidae, respectively. They maintain strong connections to the Australian National University, Canberra, where, as Visiting Fellows, much of this fourth edition was revised.

Contenu
List of boxes. Preface to the fourth edition.

Preface to the third edition.

Preface to the second edition.

Preface and acknowledgments for first edition.

1 THE IMPORTANCE, DIVERSITY, AND CONSERVATION OF INSECTS.

1.1 What is entomology?

1.2 The importance of insects.

1.3 Insect biodiversity.

1.4 Naming and classification of insects.

1.5 Insects in popular culture and commerce.

1.6 Insects as food.

1.7 Culturing insects.

1.8 Insect conservation.

Further reading.

2 EXTERNAL ANATOMY.

2.1 The cuticle.

2.2 Segmentation and tagmosis.

2.3 The head.

2.4 The thorax.

2.5 The abdomen.

Further reading.

3 INTERNAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.

3.1 Muscles and locomotion.

3.2 The nervous system and co-ordination.

3.3 The endocrine system and the function of hormones.

3.4 The circulatory system.

3.5 The tracheal system and gas exchange.

3.6 The gut, digestion, and nutrition.

3.7 The excretory system and waste disposal.

3.8 Reproductive organs.

Further reading.

4 SENSORY SYSTEMS AND BEHAVIOR.

4.1 Mechanical stimuli.

4.2 Thermal stimuli, 101

4.3 Chemical stimuli.

4.4 Insect vision.

4.5 Insect behavior.

Further reading.

5 REPRODUCTION.

5.1 Bringing the sexes together.

5.2 Courtship.

5.3 Sexual selection.

5.4 Copulation.

5.5 Diversity in genitalic morphology.

5.6 Sperm storage, fertilization, and sex determination.

5.7 Sperm competition.

5.8 Oviparity (egg-laying).

5.9 Ovoviviparity and viviparity.

5.10 Atypical modes of reproduction.

5.11 Physiological control of reproduction.

Further reading.

6 INSECT DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE HISTORIES.

6.1 Growth.

6.2 Life-history patterns and phases.

6.3 Process and control of molting.

6.4 Voltinism.

6.5 Diapause.

6.6 Dealing with environmental extremes.

6.7 Migration.

6.8 Polymorphism and polyphenism.

6.9 Age-grading.

6.10 Environmental effects on development.

6.11 Climate and insect distributions.

Further reading.

7 INSECT SYSTEMATICS: PHYLOGENY AND CLASSIFICATION.

7.1 Systematics.

7.2 The extant Hexapoda.

7.3 Class Entognatha: Protura (proturans), Collembola (springtails), and Diplura (diplurans).

7.4 Class Insecta (true insects).

Further reading.

8 INSECT BIOGEOGRAPHY AND EVOLUTION.

8.1 Insect biogeography.

8.2 The antiquity of insects.

8.3 Were the first insects aquatic or terrestrial?

8.4 Evolution of wings.

8.5 Evolution of metamorphosis.

8.6 Insect diversification.

8.7 Insect evolution in the Pacific.

Further reading.

9 GROUND-DWELLING INSECTS.

9.1 Insects of litter and soil.

9.2 Insects and dead trees or decaying wood.

9.3 Insects and dung.

9.4 Insectcarrion interactions.

9.5 Insectfungal interactions.

9.6 Cavernicolous insects.

9.7 Environmental monitoring using ground-dwelling hexapods.

Further reading.

10 AQUATIC INSECTS.

10.1 Taxonomic distribution and terminology.

10.2 The evolution of aquatic lifestyles.

10.3 Aquatic insects and their oxygen supplies.

10.4 The aquatic environment.

10.5 Environmental monitoring using aquatic insects.

10.6 Functional feeding groups.

10.7 Insects of temporary waterbodies. &...