Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity

"Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity" is intended as a text for courses in general entomology with laboratory. It was written for students who have completed an introductory course in biology. The biology of insects as well as their classification are treated in depth. The common insects of North America are covered, together with discussion of species found elsewhere in the world. Parts I and II provide reading material for lectures. Part I, on insects as organisms, covers morphology, physiology, and behavior, including social behavior. Part II, on ecology of insects, begins with population biology, followed by chapters on insects in relation to their environments and pest management. Part III, on insect diversity, provides source material for the laboratory. The classification of insects, their evolution and fossil record are discussed first. Each order is then presented with a discussion of general biology and ecology, keys for identification of families, and, in some chapters, discussion of the biologies of families. All insect orders and over four hundred families of insects are treated. A chapter on insect collecting is included. The text is illustrated with numerous line drawings by Barbara Boole Daly and photographs, including color plates, by Edward S. Ross.