Table of Contents
Introduction 6
1 Ancestors and Evolution 8
1.1 Rise of the arthropods
1.2 The first insects?
1.3 The first fliers
1.4 Insect evolutionary tree
1.5 Carboniferous Earth: A land of giants
1.6 Recent evolution
2 The Insect Body Plan 32
2.1 Exoskeleton
2.2 The three body sections
2.3 Segmentation and appendages
2.4 Limb structure
2.5 The wings and elytra
2.6 Unusual bodies
3 The Senses and the Nervous System 48
3.1 Eyes
3.2 Antennae
3.3 Chemoreception
3.4 Hearing, touch, and more
3.5 Brains, ganglia, and nerves
3.6 Insect intelligence
4 Movement 64
4.1 Muscular system
4.2 Movement on land
4.3 Flight
4.4 Swimming and diving
4.5 Escaping danger
4.6 Immobility
5 Feeding and Digestion 78
5.1 Mouthpart anatomy
5.2 Types of diet
5.3 The digestive tract
5.4 Processing food
5.5 Changes during life cycle
5.6 Drinking and fluid balance
6 The Respiratory and Circualtory Systems 92
6.1 Breathing system
6.2 Gas exchange
6.3 Circulatory system
6.4 Hemolymph
6.5 Unusual adaptations
6.6 Hormones
7 The Reproductive System 106
7.1 Male reproductive anatomy
7.2 Female reproductive anatomy
7.3 Mating and fertilization
7.4 Parthenogenesis
7.5 Laying eggs
7.6 Unusual adaptations
8 Eggs and Larvae 126
8.1 Types of eggs
8.2 Development in the egg
8.3 Types of larvae
8.4 Feeding
8.5 Growth and molt
8.6 Lifestyle changes
9 Metamorphosis 140
9.1 Types of life cycle
9.2 Incomplete metamorphosis
9.3 Full metamorphosis
9.4 Transformation within the pupa
9.5 Emergence
9.6 Maturation in adulthood
10 Behavior and Anatomy 156
10.1 Feeding behavior
10.2 Breeding behavior
10.3 Parental care
10.4 Seasonal behavior
10.5 Eusocial insects
10.6 Interspecies interactions
11 Cells and Biochemistry 178
11.1 Structure of a typical cell
11.2 Cell organelles
11.3 Cell replication
11.4 Immunology
11.5 Specialized cell types
11.6 Insects in cellular research
12 Diversity and Conservation 192
12.1 Types of insects
12.2 Insect communities in different habitats
12.3 Record-breakers
12.4 Threats facing insects
12.5 Extinction
12.6 Insect conservation
Glossary 216
Index 218
Credits 224