The Insects is about how insects function as animals; it brings together basic anatomy and physiology and relates this to behaviour. It emphasizes the roles of different functional systems in the context of the whole organism using studies of many different species as illustrations. Unlike other texts, it does not dwell on classification, but takes an in-depth look at physiology. As such it provides all biologists, even those without entomological training, with a basic understanding of how insects work. A long-awaited update of a well established standard text and respected reference work for students and researchers in zoology, entomology and physiology, it has been rewritten throughout, whilst retaining the successful structure of the earlier editions. Improved illustrations have been augmented with electron micrographs, and expanded reference sections will make it a valuable addition to all biologists’ bookshelves. R.F. CHAPMAN is a professor in the Division of Neurobiology at the University of Arizona. He has extensive teaching and research experience in the field and in the laboratory, and has worked in Zambia, Ghana, the UK, and Australia as well as in the USA. He has also written Hostplant Selection by Phytophagous Insects (1994) with E.A. Bernays, and has edited Biology of Grasshoppers (1990) with A. Joern and Regulatory Mechanisms in Insect Feeding (1995) with G. de Boer.

Part 1 The Head, Ingestion, Utilization and Distribution of Food
a. Head
b. Neck
c. Antennae
2. Mouth parts and Feeding
a. Ectognathous mouthparts
b. Mechanics and Control of Feeding
c. Regulation of Feeding
d. Other Consequences of Feeding
3. Alimentary Canal, Digestion and Absorption
a. The Alimentary Canal
b. Digestion
c. Abortion
d. The Alimentary Tract as an Immunological Organ
4. Nutrition
a. Required Nutrition
b. Balance of Nutrients
c. Nutritional effect on growth, development reproduction and Lifespan
d. Contribution of Symbiotic Microorganisms to insect nutrition
5. Circulatory system, blood and the immune system
a. The Circulatory System
b. Circulation
c. Hemolymph
d. Hemocytes
6. Fat Body
a. Fat Body structure and Development
b. Storage and Utilization of Energy
c. Function as an endocrine organ and Nutritional sensor
Part 2 The Thorax and locomotion
7. Thorax
a. Segmentation of the Thorax
b. Morphology of the Thorax
c. Muscles of the Thorax
8. Legs and locomotion
a. Basic structure of the legs
b.Modifications of the basic leg structure
c. Maintenance of stance
d. Locomotion
e. Locomotion in aquatic insects