Description
Book SynopsisProvides an introduction to the biology and natural history of insects and their noninsect cousins, such as spiders, scorpions, and centipedes. This book features more than 830 color photos, a concise overview of the basics of entomology, and numerous sidebars that highlight and explain key points.
Trade ReviewOne of the New Scientist's Best Science Books of 2013 "This is an interesting, well-written introduction to entomology, providing a broad overview of the biology and natural history of insects and related arhropods. Cranshaw and Redak emphasize life histories, select adaptations, ecological importance, and aspects of economic and public health concern. More than 800 full-color photographs and a variety of black-and-white line drawings accompany the text... Having developed out of a specific need to create an entomology text for nonscience majors, this book is readily accessible to a wide range of readers and will appeal to anyone interested in learning about insects and their kin... Nonscience majors or readers unfamiliar with insect biology will appreciate this discussion of the fascinating diversity of insect life."--Choice "I can't praise this book enough. Bugs Rule! is ... worth every cent for the wealth of information and fascinating reading that it provides."--Marlene A. Condon, Roanoke Star Online "This book should enable students to identify insects they encounter and it will undoubtedly remove much of the stigma that insects suffer. It cannot help but change students' attitudes that bugs are uninteresting or scary. The volume, supplemented by lectures, will likely become a popular entomology textbook for nonscience majors."--Albert D. Carlson, Quarterly Review of Biology "[T]his is a highly readable and entertaining book on bugs, with lots of superb colour photos and is highly recommended to anyone who wishes to learn more about insect orders they are unfamiliar with."--John Badmin, Journal of the British Entomology and Natural History Society "Written to appeal to non-science students, this book offers a light, informal approach with an easy to read style. It brims with fascinating facts and eye-catching images. It should do exactly what the authors intended, making entomology easily accessible to a wide range of students outside of mainstream science courses."--Peter Smithers, Antennae "Reading it is delightful, and it is likely to ignite further interest for the world of insects."--Marco Ferrante, Bulletin of Insectology
Table of ContentsPREFACE ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi 1Introduction to the Arthropods 1 2What One Sees on the Outside--External Features of Insects 14 3The Internal Organization 39 4Growth and Metamorphosis 58 5The Arachnids--Spiders, Scorpions, Mites, and Other Eight-Legged Wonders 75 6The "Other" Arthropods 119 7Oldies but Goodies 136 8Insects Fly! 144 9Jumpers and Strollers--Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Walkingsticks 155 10Variety Is the Spice of Life--Some Minor, but Interesting, Insect Orders 171 11Roach Cities and Assassin Cousins 182 12Lousy Nitpickers 202 13Life on an All-Fluid Diet 212 14Insect Bruisers and Their Lacewinged Cousins 252 15City Builders That Rule 296 16Scale-Winged Beauties and Custom Homebuilders 339 17"Gift" Bearers of Plague--or a Plump Insect Wedding Present 377 18Marvels of the Air--Two-Winged Wonders 387 APPENDIX I: STATE INSECTS 425 APPENDIX II: LARGEST ARTHROPODS 431 APPENDIX III: SUMMARY OF FEATURES OF THE HEXAPOD ORDERS 435 GLOSSARY 459 INDEX 475
