Bugs Rule!: An Introduction to the World of Insects

by Whitney Cranshaw, Richard Redak

Overview

The essential illustrated introduction to insects for nonscience majors

Bugs Rule! provides a lively introduction to the biology and natural history of insects and their noninsect cousins, such as spiders, scorpions, and centipedes. This richly illustrated textbook features more than 830 color photos, a concise overview of the basics of entomology, and numerous sidebars that highlight and explain key points. Detailed chapters cover each of the major insect groups, describing their physiology, behaviors, feeding habits, reproduction, human interactions, and more.

Ideal for nonscience majors and anyone seeking to learn more about insects and their arthropod relatives, Bugs Rule! offers a one-of-a-kind gateway into the world of these amazing creatures.

• Places a greater emphasis on natural history than standard textbooks on the subject
• Covers the biology and natural history of all the insect orders
• Provides a thorough review of the noninsect arthropods, such as spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, and crustaceans
• Features more than 830 color photos
• Highlights the importance of insects and other arthropods, including their impact on human society
• An online illustration package is available to professors

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691124957
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	09/15/2013
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	496
Sales rank:	627,204
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Whitney Cranshaw is professor of entomology at Colorado State University. He is the author of Garden Insects of North America (Princeton). Richard Redak is professor of entomology at the University of California, Riverside. Both authors have years of experience teaching introductory entomology classes.

Table of Contents

PREFACE 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

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Breadth classes dealing with insects have been extremely popular among science and nonscience majors for decades. The photographs, illustrations, little known facts, and sidebars in Bugs Rule! bring to life the fascinating world of insects. Bugs Rule! is an excellent text for the nonscience major and general nature enthusiast."—Michael K. Rust, University of California, Riverside

"Bugs Rule! offers a basic introduction to the biology and diversity of insects and their importance to the environment and to humans. It provides a good balance between science and interesting highlights that illustrate why insects are so vital to our lives. Students will enjoy the book."—Tom Weissling, University of Nebraska

"Readable and accessible, Bugs Rule! is crammed with tidbits of information."—Jonathan Neal, Purdue University

Editorial Reviews

One of the New Scientist’s Best Science Books of 2013

From the Publisher

"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."

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