Insect Biodiversity (eBook)

Robert G. Foottit is a research scientist specializing in the taxonomy of aphids and related groups, with the Canadian National Collection of Insects and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. His research interests include the use of morphological and molecular approaches in the study of aphid species and populations, particularly those of economic interest as pests and invasive species. He has conducted field work throughout Canada and the United States as well as the Pacific Basin area. Peter H. Adler is a professor of entomology at Clemson University, where he has held a teaching and research appointment for more than 20 years, specializing in the behavior, ecology, and systematics of insects, particularly Diptera. He has conducted research throughout North America, as well as in the Caucusus, Russia, Europe, the Amazon Basin, and Southeast Asia. He is the senior author of the 2004 award-winning book The Black Flies (Simuliidae) of North America published by Cornell University Press.

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

1. Introduction Peter H. Adler and Robert G. Foottit.

2. The Importance of Insects G.G.E. Scudder.

Part I. Insect Biodiversity: Regional Examples.

3. Insect Biodiversity in the Nearctic Region Andrew B. T.
Smith and Hugh V. Danks.

4. Amazonian Rainforests and Their Richness of Coleoptera, a
Dominant Life Form in the Critical Zone of the Neotropics Terry
L. Erwin and Christy J. Geraci.

5. Insect Biodiversity in the Afrotropical Region C.H.
Scholtz and M.W. Mansell.

6. Biodiversity of Australasian Insects Peter S.
Cranston.

7. Insect Biodiversity in the Palearctic Region Alexander S.
Konstantinov, Boris A. Korotyaev and Mark G. Volkovitsh.

Part II. Insect Biodiversity: Taxon Examples.

8. Biodiversity of Aquatic Insects John C. Morse.

9. Biodiversity of Diptera G.W. Courtney, T. Pape, J.H.
Skevington and B.J. Sinclair.

10. Biodiversity of Heteroptera Thomas J. Henry.

11. Biodiversity of Coleoptera P. Bouchard, V.V. Grebennikov,
A.B.T. Smith and H. Douglas.

12. Biodiversity of Hymenoptera John T. Huber.

13. Lepidoptera Biodiversity Michael G. Pogue.

Part III. Tools and Approaches.

14. The Science of Insect Taxonomy: Prospects and Needs
Quentin D. Wheeler.

15. Insect Species - Concepts and Practice Michael F.
Claridge.

16. Molecular Dimensions of Insect Taxonomy Felix Sperling
and Amanda Roe.

17. DNA Barcodes and Insect Biodiversity Robin M. Floyd, John
J. Wilson, Paul D. N. Hebert.

18. Insect Biodiversity and Informatics Norman F.
Johnson.

19. Parasitoid Diversity and Insect Pest Management John
Heraty.

20. Taxonomy of Crop Pests: The Aphids Gary L. Miller and
Robert G. Foottit.

21. Adventive Insects: A Global Overview Alfred G. Wheeler,
Jr. and E. Richard Hoebeke.

22. Biodiversity of Biting Flies: Implications for Humanity
Peter H. Adler.

23. Reconciling Ethical and Scientific Issues for Insect
Conservation Michael J. Samways.

24. Insect Biodiversity: Assessment and Taxonomy Ke Chung
Kim.

25. Insect Biodiversity -- Millions and Millions May
Berenbaum.

Taxonomic Index.

Subject Index

"There is much to do, and as Quentin Wheeler states in his chapter,
"we do not yet know enough about insect diversity to characterize
precisely the magnitude of our ignorance". Despite the challenges,
this volume provides a comprehensive overview of our current
knowledge. Tim New writes in his forward that he hopes that "some
of the chapters will be key references as we progressively refine
and enlarge our understanding". I feel that this book defines the
baseline in this field at the beginning of the twenty-first
century, and is destined to became an indispensable first port of
can for any one initiating world in this field."
(Antenna, 2010)

"This book contains a vast amount of information and will be an
important reference for years to come." (CHOICE, December
2009)"Recommended for anyone even remotely interested in insects
and their ecological importance." (Museum fur naturkunde,
2010)

"This book is a highly original account, providing many new
insights and new summarized data that should not be missing on the
shelves of any entomologist, and also other biologists and
naturalists can benefit from this volume." (Tijdschrift voor
Entomologie, April 2009)