The Insects: An Outline of Entomology - Softcover

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Penny Gullan is Reader at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

Peter Cranston is Senior Principle Research Scientist with CSIRO Entomology and Adjunct Professor at the Australian National University. From early 2000, the address of both authors will be the Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, USA.

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This established textbook continues to provide a comprehensive and stimulating introduction to insects, a group of animals that represent over half of the planet's biological diversity. It commences with a review of the significance of insects, their immense diversity and their patterns of distribution. Insects influence all of our activities, and in seeking to understand their success, the key features of insect anatomy, physiology, behaviour, ecology, phylogeny and evolution are identified by the authors. The book is organized around major biological themes - the ecology and behaviour of living on the ground, in water, on plants, in colonies, and as predators, parasites and prey; a strong evolutionary theme is maintained throughout. The economic importance of insects is considered in chapters on medical and veterinary entomology, and pest management. A systematic synopsis of each insect order is given in the appropriate chapter, summarized in the end pages, and replaces the traditional taxon-by-taxon arrangement of other books. Methods of collecting, preserving and identifying insects are dealt with in a new final chapter, and the book ends with a tabular identification guide to insect orders. The authors maintain the tradition of clarity and conciseness set by the first edition, and the text is extensively illustrated with many newly-commissioned hand-drawn figures. A colour plate section has also been added to enhance the text and visually demonstrate essential points in the book. The illustrations and the informative text aim to encourage the scientific study of insects, either as a vocation or as a hobby. The book is intended as the principal text for students taking courses in entomology, as well as wider degree programmes in which the study of insects is important, such as ecology, agriculture, fisheries and forestry, palaeontology, zoology, and medical and veterinary science.