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Insects: A Very Short Introduction [#709]
Insects: A Very Short Introduction [#709]
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  • Introduces the extraordinarily diverse and beautiful world of insects
  • Highlights the crucial role insects play in ecosystems across the world
  • Discusses insect evolution, taxonomies, and behaviour
  • Considers the challenges facing insects, leading to alarming trends of decline in numbers, and explores potential solutions

    
To date, more than a million insect species have been described, with probably at least another 5-8 million species waiting in the wings for a name. Insects are a fascinatingly diverse and beautiful spectrum of animals. They range in size from the tiny parasitic wasp, measuring a mere 139µm, to the aptly named Titan beetle, which can reach lengths of up to 17cm. They can be found on all continents of the world, from the Sahara Desert to the frozen wastes of Antarctica; in caves, under the ground, inside plants, other insects and vertebrates, in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds, in puddles, in the watery interiors of pitcher plants; and in our houses. While no insects live beneath the waves, the intrepid sea skaters skim the surface of some of the world's oceans.
    
This Very Short Introduction explores the extraordinary world of insects. It analyses insect evolution, taxonomy and development, and describes their behaviour, their life styles, and the interactions they have with other insects and other animals. As Simon Leather shows, insects are the bedrock on which human civilisation rests; without them we would almost certainly not exist. Although they can be seen as pests of our crops plants, they are also invaluable for pollinating our flowering plants and are an invaluable link in all land ecosystems. As they face challenges from climate change and pesticides it has never been more important to understand these oft-dismissed creatures.

Index: 

Introduction
1:In the beginning
2:Prolific procreators - reproduction and host selection
3:On the move - finding somewhere to live and something to eat
4:Living together - social insects, parental care, mutualism
5:Aquatic insects - skaters, divers, and bottom dwellers
6:Mimicry, crypsis, and blatant advertising
7:Against the odds - behaviour and survival in extreme conditions
8:The good, the bad, and the ugly - how insects help and hinder us
9:Ecological Armageddon - insects in decline?
References
Further Reading
Index

About the author: 

Simon Leather was Emeritus Professor of Entomology in the Department of Agriculture & Environment at Harper Adams University and founding Editor-in-Chief of the Royal Entomological Society journal Insect Conservation and Diversity. His work comprised teaching and research, along with further public engagement through his blog. His books include the forthcoming The Field Course Handbook (with Tilly Collins and Patricia Reader)

Product details

ISBN : 9780198847045

Author: 
Simon Leather
Pages
184 Pages
Format
Paperback
Size
111 x 174 mm
Pub date
Jun 2022
Series
Very Short Introductions
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Insects: A Very Short Introduction [#709]

Insects: A Very Short Introduction [#709]

Insects: A Very Short Introduction [#709]