Book Description

Mites are major pests of greenhouse crops and cause significant economic impact. This book describes the biology, identification and control of such mites. Topics covered include: Introduction to the Acari; Keys to orders, families and selected species; Collecting, rearing and studying mites; Pest mites and their control; Beneficial mites in biological control. ... Read more

Book Description

Bumblebees have always been favored subjects for scientific study, but research has accelerated in recent years.Many new discoveries have been made with regard to their ecology and social behavior.The last twenty years has seen the commercialization of bumblebee breeding or pollination, and the invasion of new parts of the globe by bumblebee species, with potentially far-reaching consequences.Despite this, there is a great deal that we do not know about bumblebees.Their nests are hard to locate, so that those of some species have never been found.Fundamental aspects of the behavior of many species, such as mating, have never been seen.Bumblebees are undergoing a widespread decline, but his has not yet caught the attention of the general public to the same extent as, for example, the plight of rare butterflies or birds.But bumblebees are probably of far greater ecological and economic importance than these groups because the pollination of crops and the survival of many wildflowers depend upon them.This book attempts to draw attention to the importance of conserving dwindling bumblebee populations.It synthesizes the current state of knowledge of the behavior and ecology of these fascinating and charismatic organisms, and identifies some of the many gaps that remain in hope of stimulating further research. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first comprehensive guide to insect life in a part ofthe world known for its abundant, and endangered, life forms. Charles Hoguesscholarship embraces vast geographical territoryMexico, Central and SouthAmerica, and the Caribbean. Color photographs and first-rate drawings illustratethe clearly written text. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

It's a good book.
For a latinoamerican entomologist, is short, for the rest, a must-have. I little bit expensive. Buy it if you are not LATINOAMERICAN. If you are, buy it anyway, if you want to compare.

Really good book!
Very complete book. Describes most groups, and the arthropods you are most likely to find. Not too technical, great for explaining to people what they are looking at. The 2 problems I can see with it, are the cost (although I do not mind paying for quality in the least, which is why I bought it and highly recommend it) and that being a general guide it sometimes does not go into as much depth as I would like. Still, I rate it as an awesome book!

a unique book on Latin American insects
This book by the late Dr. Hogue fills a needy slot in Latin American natural history by combining scientific detail with a simple, clear presentation of Latin America's many insect groups. Each group is discussed in turn with summries of taxonomy, diversity and natural history. Basic but useful black and white illustrations give one a "feel" for each of these group. While this is no field guide to identification, it is an excellent overview of information that is otherwise scattered through the literature. We use it at our field site in South America and the only complaint is that there is no Spanish translation! ... Read more

Book Description

Human beings have long been captivated by the striking orange and black dress and the epic migrations of monarch butterflies. The World of the Monarch Butterfly combines a graceful text and stunning full-color photographs to capture the essence of this fragile yet hardy species.

Monarchs have the longest migration in the insect world. The monarch takes about three months to migrate approximately 2500 miles and may cover over 80 miles each day. Tens of millions of monarchs in North America migrate to a single small area of rare oyamel forests high in the mountains west of Mexico City. How does each generation find its way to the same place every year? How do monarchs know when to begin their journey? And what causes monarchs born at the end of the summer to migrate while those born in midsummer don't?

Well-known science writer Eric S. Grace explores these and other questions, describing the dangers of migration, the monarch's use of the milkweed plant as a defense against predators, the intricate courtship rituals of the monarch, and the dramatic metamorphosis that transforms a voracious stay-at-home caterpillar into an elegant and gregarious beauty. He also discusses the tragic loss of monarch roosting sites to logging, the destruction of monarch habitat by agriculture and urbanization, and the need for international cooperation to protect the monarch.

Exquisite photographs portray monarch butterflies filling an intense blue sky, alighting singly on a wildflower, and emerging from a cocoon. Other photographs show the environment where they live. Together, text and photographs elucidate the mystery of the marvelous monarch. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Amazing!!!!!
I've got a thing for Monarch butterflies so when I saw this book I jumped on getting it. I have a number of other books pertaining to Monarchs but the photographs in here are absolutely moving! There are close-up images of the egg and emerging caterpillar, there are pictures of the sky filled with these orange and black jewels, there are close-ups of chrysallids that fill a page of the book. Its just amazing. But wait, its much more than just a picture book. The text is great too. Each stage of development is covered (with great corresponding photographs, extreme close-ups), and following metamorphosis, there's discussion of the Journey South, the paths of migration, some discussion of tagging, a section on the winter roosts, and a discussion of morach habitats, food predators etc. A really wonderful work, extremely well done!!! ... Read more

Book Description

The Spider has a bad name - to most of us, she represents an odious, noxious animal, which every one hastens to crush under foot. Against this summary verdict the observer sets the beast's industry, its talent as a weaver, its wiliness in the chase, its tragic nuptials and other characteristics of great interest. Yes, the Spider is well worth studying, apart from any scientific reasons; but she is said to be poisonous and that is her crime and the primary cause of the repugnance wherewith she inspires us. Poisonous, if by that we understand that the animal is armed with two fangs which cause the immediate death of the little victims which it catches; but there is a wide difference between killing a Midge and harming a man. However immediate in its effects upon the insect entangled in the fatal web, the Spider's poison is not serious for us and causes less inconvenience than a Gnat-bite. That, at least, is what we can safely say as regards the great majority of the!Spiders of our regions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book shows a side of a spider never, ever fathomed B4.
I can't remember how this book "fell" into my hands, but I COULD NOT put it down once it had. As a lover of spiders since childhood, I sat agape, mouth in my lap as I read an entomologist's experiences observingvarious arachnid species on several continents. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the most comprehensive field guide to the butterflies of Europe. The magnificent color illustrations and succinct entries cover all 440 species across, and sometimes beyond, the continent--from Lapland to North Africa, from the British Isles to Portugal to Greece, from the Pyrenees to the Caucasus. Completely up-to-date, the book includes dozens of species absent in earlier guides and covers the Canary Islands, the Azores, Madeira, and the Aegean Islands, home to several butterflies found nowhere else in Europe.

The entries cover taxonomic nomenclature, range, distribution, description, flight period, variation, habitat, life history--including, importantly, larval host plants--and behavior. The 104 color plates feature over 2,000 illustrations, including both genders of each species and lateral views. Distribution maps accompany nearly all entries. In this journey to the haunts of the Old World's most kaleidoscopic creatures we encounter: Swallowtails and Festoons, Orange Tips, Hairstreaks and Blues, Emperors and Tortoiseshells, Fritillaries, Ringlets, Skippers, and many other delicately winged delights.

All who find butterflies beautiful will treasure this authoritative guide. Whether already afield or still at home dreaming of that trip to Europe, they will feel what the great literary lepidopterist, Vladimir Nabokov, did as a schoolboy in Russia, when, as he once recounted, he so yearned to identify one of those "delicate little creatures that cling in the daytime to speckled surfaces, with which their flat wings and turned-up abdomens blend."

*Comprehensive field guide to the 440 butterflies found in Europe
*Each species fully illustrated with paintings of the male, female, and, where appropriate, all major forms
*Over 2,000 color illustrations and more than 400 distribution maps--one for every widespread species
*Text covering taxonomic nomenclature, distribution, flight period, variation, habitat, behavior, life cycle, food plants, and conservation
*All information researched from original sources

Book Description

This is the third book in our exciting new Kids' FAQs series, with real questions from real kids. Like our first titles, Everything Dog and Everything Cat, Everything Bug is not your standard reference book. It includes real kids' questions about insects and spiders, and answers them in a matter-of-fact way. In addition to providing basic information like habitat, diet, species distinction and life cycle, this book delves into the more unusual--but equally important--questions, like "Do people really eat bugs?" and "Is it true that old poop would pile up around us if insects disappeared?" Everything Bug has it all. Parents and teachers agree, this series is perfect for budding scientists or simply curious kids. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

CurrentAdvance in Mycorrhizae Research
Signaling mechanisms in mycorrhizal symbiosis ... Read more

Book Description

Almost 400 species of butterflies flutter about the Southwest, well adapted to the varying conditions. This book pictures all butterflies you are most likely to see in the Southwest-in their natural environment. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nice
A fascinating book. While it also includes a well illustrated taxonomic key, I found its main strength to be the discussion of the fire ants' biology and ecology. If you liked Dr. Taber's Harvester Ant book, you will probably also like this one. ... Read more

Book Description

Insects and fungi have a shared history of association in common habitats where together they endure similar environmental conditions, but only recently have mycologists and entomologists recognized and had the techniques to study the intricacies of some of the associations. This new volume covers "seven wonders of the insect-fungus world" for which exciting new results have become available, often due to the use of new methods that include phylogenetic analysis and development of molecular markers.Eleven chapters of the volume are presented in two sections, "Fungi that act against insects" and "Fungi mutualistic with insects" that cover a number of major themes. Examples of necrotrophic parasites of insects are discussed, not only for biological control potential, but also as organisms with population structure and complex multipartite interactions; a beneficial role for symptomless endophytes in broad-leafed plants is proposed; biotrophic fungal parasites with reduced morphologies are placed among relatives using phylogenetic methods; complex methods of fungal spore dispersal include interactions with one or more arthropods; the farming behavior of New World attine ants is compared with that of humans and the Old World fungus-growing termites; certain mycophagous insects use fungi as a sole nutritional resource; and other insects obtain nutritional supplements from yeasts.Insects involved in fungal associations include--but are not limited to--members of the Coleoptera, Diptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, and Isoptera. The fungi involved in interactions with insects may be clustered taxonomically, as is the case for Ascomycetes in the Hypocreales (e.g., Beauveria, Metarhizium, Fusarium), ambrosia fungi in the genera ophiostoma and ceratocystis and their asexual relatives, Laboulbeniomycetes, Saccharomycetes, and the more basal Microsporidia. Other groups, however, have only occasional members (e.g., mushrooms cultivated by attine ants and termites) in such associations. The chapters included in this volume constitute a modern crash course in the study of insect-fungus associations. ... Read more

Book Description

Parasitoids are insects that parasitize and eventually kill other insects. Between one and two million species of parasitoid insect exist on the earth today. This book explores how this staggering diversity is maintained and documents patterns in host-parasitoid interactions, including parasitoid community richness, the importance of parasitoids as mortality factors, and their impact on host densities as determined by the outcomes of parasitoid introductions for biological control. It documents general patterns using data sets generated from the global literature and evaluates potential underlying biological, ecological, and evolutionary mechanisms. A theme running throughout the book is the importance of host refuges as a major constraint on host-parasitoid interactions. ... Read more

Book Description

Many of the advances in entomology during the past century can be attributed to the ability to rear insects successfully on artificial diets. Reliance upon these diets dictates that we understand how and why diets work and why they fail. Insect Diets: Science and Technology explains the intricaciesand dynamics of this complex and misunderstood aspect of entomology.This text discusses the various ingredients and processing steps of successful diets. It details various nutrient classes and explains how the constituent parts of diets meet insect nutritional and feeding needs. The author examines diets in terms of overall insect biology, and explores the physical and chemical interactions of food components. This book offers an expert perspective on diet development and how a program of food quality assessment can be applied to rearing systems.Drawing heavily on the field of food science, the book applies the vast resources, information, and methods of this discipline toward a full analysis of the preparation of insect diets, an analysis that serves as a valuable resource in the advancement of entomology. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Exhaustive treatment of the subject
The authors have done a superlative job condensing years of research into a comprehensive encyclopedia of insect pests of palms. With a holistic approach that emphasizes the biological interaction of insects with their palm hosts, and a mix of basic and applied information, this volume is an invaluable reference for anyone who works with the "royalty of plants," from the enthusiastic hobbyist to an agronomist managing extensive palm plantations. Accessible and edifying for both scientists and non-scientists, "Insects on Palms" will remain the acknowledged authority on its subject for years to come.

Por fin disponemos de un buen libro sobre plagas de palmeras
Los amantes de las palmeras y los que trabajamos en este campo echábamos de menos un buen libro sobre las plagas de las palmeras. Desde que Lepesme publicara en 1947, en francés, "Les Insectes des Palmiers", nadie se había atrevido a poner al día, de forma tan profunda, los conocimientos sobre los insectos de las palmeras y las modernas técnicas de control. Por fin, los autores de este libro, que poseen una amplia experiencia en estos insectos, nos ofrecen una herramienta de trabajo indispensable, moderna y llena de conocimientos. ... Read more

Book Description

The amazing armored bodies of beetles allow them to bore into plant tissue, navigate fast-moving streams, burrow through seemingly impenetrable soil, survive blistering heat, and fly. With around 8,000 species living in California, beetles represent the largest and most diverse group of organisms in the state and are an excellent subject for study since they can be found almost everywhere--in backyards, gardens, forests, and deserts. This, the only guide to California beetles available, is the perfect book for anyone--from outdoor enthusiasts to professional biologists--who wants to explore the fascinating world of beetles. In addition to providing information on where to find and how to study beetles, the book also gives an engaging and accessible overview of their natural history, biology, distribution, and relation to humans.

* 51 color illustrations and supporting black-and-white photographs and drawings identify the characteristics and habits of 23 of the most conspicuous and interesting beetle families in California

* Chapters describe beetles of special interest--fossil species, endangered species, pests, biological control agents, and more

* Includes an annotated list of terrestrial and aquatic beetle habitats by season, information on starting and caring for a beetle collection, details on keeping beetles alive in the classroom, and a checklist of California beetle families ... Read more

Amazon.com

A companion volume to the Miramax documentary of the same name, Microcosmos is "a natural fairy tale," an insect's-eye view of the world. The text tends toward the poetic and metaphorical, likening the ripening of a cocoon to computer assembly language, examining the flight patterns of mosquitoes, veering into discussions of why it is that flowers are beautiful. (The French authors have a wonderful answer: "Flowers are beautiful quite simply to seduce insects.") The book's greatest strength is in its superb photographs, which capture the minutest details of an insect's wanderings. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

astounding pictures
This book is well worth the money! Even if you haven't seen the movie that originated the book, you'll be fascinated by the small world of insects. As a 3D artist, I strongly recommend this book for its rich and wonderful reference pictures of insects at different stages of their lives. The diversity of their shapes, the richness of their textures. After the 2nd or 3rd page, you'll find yourself empathizing with these little creatures!

A Magnificent Display of Insect Macro Photography
I saw this book in a bookstore but did not buy as it was overpriced (more than US$38) !!

But, it is indeed a good book showing insects and other creepy crawlies in action and close proxity. How the photographers did it was a remarkable achievement and certainly deserve to win awards for this work.

Anyone who likes good photos of insects will undoubtedly love this book.

Although this book is out of print, Warner Home Video has produced a VCD by the authors of the same title, and it is perhaps even more stunningly beautiful and awesome.

If you can, get the book and the VCD.

extraordinary, one-of-a kind creature photography
a must have for macro photographers--even for fine art photographers. beautifully depicted insects in detail never seen before. the world of insects shown as an amazing fantasy land. ... Read more