Insects and Wildlife

"It is highly informative and will be useful for entomologists, vertebrate biologists, and anyone interested in wildlife and insect conservation. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries." (CHOICE, September 2010)

John L. Capinera is a professor of entomology and chairman of the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida. His interests include insect ecology and pest management, and he has conducted research on insects in forest, rangeland, and crop ecosystems.

Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Section 1: Introduction to the Arthropods 1 Chapter 1 Insects and Their Relatives 3 Naming of Taxa 3 Arthopoda 6 Arachnida 6 Crustacea 8 Diplopoda 9 Chilopoda 11 Entognatha 11 Insecta 14 Classification of Insects 14 Characteristics of the Major Groups of Insects 15 Evolution of Insects 27 Insect Biogeography 32 Summary 33 References and Additional Reading 33 Chapter 2 Structure and Function Of Insects 34 Integument 34 Molting 35 Body Regions 35 The Head 37 The Thorax 41 The Abdomen 43 Internal Anatomy 45 Muscular System 45 Fat Body 47 Digestive System 47 Circulatory System 50 Ventilatory System 51 Nervous System 52 Vision 54 Glandular Systems 55 Polyphenism or Polymorphism 57 Communication 58 Sociality 61 Ants 62 Social Bees and Wasps 62 Termites 63 Metamorphosis 63 Reproductive System 65 Eggs of Insects 66 Excretory System 69 Thermal Biology 69 Feeding Ecology 71 Scavenging 73 Feeding Belowground 73 Feeding in Aquatic Habitats 74 Feeding on Living Plants 75 Feeding on Blood 78 Predation and Parasitism 79 Summary 79 References and Additional Reading 81 Section 2: Food Relationships 83 Chapter 3 Food Resources for Wildlife 85 Assessment of Insectivory 85 Methods for Determining the Abundance of Insects 86 Methods for Determining Wildlife Diets 91 Nutritional Value of Insects 97 Importance of Insects in the Diets of Wildlife 98 Summary 103 References and Additional Reading 103 Chapter 4 Wildlife Diets 105 Analysis of Amphibian and Reptile Diets 105 Analysis of Mammal Diets 107 Analysis of Bird Diets 126 Analysis of Fish Diets 152 The Benefits of Insects for Wildlife Survival and Reproduction 156 How Insects Avoid Becoming Food for Wildlife 158 Crypsis 158 Aposematism 159 Mimicry 159 Flight and Startle Behavior 160 Physical and Chemical Defenses 162 Group Actions 163 Nocturnal Activity 165 Summary 165 References and Additional Reading 166 Chapter 5 Insects Important as Food for Wildlife 171 Aquatic Insects 171 Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera) 171 Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera) 172 Dragonflies and Damselflies (Order Odonata) 173 Bugs (Order Hemiptera) 175 Alderflies Dobsonflies and Fishflies (Order Megaloptera) 176 Beetles (Order Coleoptera) 176 Flies (Order Diptera) 177 Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera) 177 Terrestrial Insects 179 Termites (Order Isoptera) 179 Cockroaches (Order Blattodea) 180 Grasshoppers Katydids and Crickets (Order Orthoptera) 181 Earwigs (Order Dermaptera) 184 Barklice or Psocids (Order Psocoptera) 186 Bugs (Order Hemiptera) 186 Lacewings Antlions and Mantidflies (Order Neuroptera) 188 Beetles (Order Coleoptera) 189 Moths and Butterflies (Order Lepidoptera) 190 Flies (Order Diptera) 192 Wasps Ants Bees and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera) 192 Summary 194 References and Additional Readings 197 Chapter 6 Insects and Ecosystems 198 Insects and Decomposition 201 Decomposition of Plant Remains 201 Decomposition of Excrement (Dung) 202 Decomposition of Carrion 204 Nutrient Cycling 206 Herbivory by Insects 210 The Importance of Herbivory 210 Plant Compensation 213 Insect Outbreaks 214 Plant Diseases and Insects 215 Pollination and Seed Dispersal by Insects 217 Invasiveness of Insects 218 Pathways of Invasion 219 Ecological and Taxonomic Patterns of Invasion 221 Establishment and Spread 222 Latency Among Invaders 223 Why Invasive Species become so Abundant 225 Impacts of Invaders 226 Summary 227 References and Additional Reading 227 Section 3: Arthropods as Disease Vectors and Pests 231 Chapter 7 Transmission of Disease Agents to Wildlife by Arthropods 233 Arthropod Feeding Behavior 233 Disease in Wildlife 235 Virulence 236 Disease Hosts 239 Disease Transmission 240 Causes of Disease 241 The Nature of Parasitism 241 Parasite-Induced Ch