Description

Offering a complete accounting of the insects of North America, this handbook is an up-dated edition of the first handbook ever compiled in the history of American entomology.

By using American Insects, A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico, Second Edition, the reader can quickly determine the taxonomic position of any species, genus, or higher taxon of insect known to occur in America and Canada. Every order, family, and genus is conveniently numbered and indexed, making this volume the only complete single source for all of the names of orders, families, and genera currently available.

This book fills the need for an accurate way to identify, with the serveral hundred drawings and photos, the common insects of all orders. Now there is a tool available to those working without a major collection and library; and those who would like to have a general knowledge of insect life without becoming overwhelmed by the vast number of minute insect species.

This usable guide provides sizes, shapes, color patterns and salient features of some species of each major family by pointing out those groups most likely to be encountered, including all North America pests.

WHAT'S NEW IN THIS EDITION?

Captions are restored into the text and all are present!
Researchers in many orders use the results of cladistics (cladistical analays), a new tool for determining the relationship of orders, families, genera, and species of organisms, including plants as well as animals
Specialists have provided lengthy lists of generic changes
Many of the identification keys have been revised by adding more illustrations and making sure all description terms are in the Glossary
The bibliographies of each Order section have been updated to include all important works that have appeared since the original edition

Features

The author is a well-known and well-respected retired professor, active researcher, and writer of over a dozen successful books. Authoritative!
The first edition won the R. R. Hawkins Award as "The Most Outstanding Technical, Scientific, or Medical Book of 1985. Award winning!
Complete family keys enable the reader to recognize any adult specimen collected on this continent north of Mexico, to family and to identify many to genus and species with almost 1,500 photographs and drawings. Indispensable aid for accurate identification!
Index of common and Latin names of almost 40,000 entries; extensive bibliography. Handy reference! Techniques to help readers collect, preserve, and breed their own specimens. Practical!

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Introduction
General Considerations
Insect Classification and Systematics
Identification Features
Insect Ecology, Behavior, and Distribution
Insect Collecting
The Orders of Insects
The Insect Fauna of America, North of Mexico
Collembola (Springtails and Allies)
Protura (Proturans)
Diplura (Diplurans)
Archaeognatha (Bristletails)
Zygentoma (Silverfish and Allies)
Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
Embioptera (Webspinners)
Phasmatodea (Walkingsticks)
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids)
Grylloblattodea (Rock Crawlers)
Dermaptera (Earwigs)
Dictyoptera (Mantids and Cockroaches)
Isoptera (Termites)
Zoraptera (Angel Insects)
Psocoptera (Booklice and Barklice )
Mallophaga (Chewing Lice)
Anoplura (Sucking Lice)
Hemiptera (True Bugs)
Homoptera (Cicadas,Leafhoppers, Aphids, Scale Insects, and Allies)
Thysanoptera (Thrips)
Neuroptera (Dobsonflies, Lacewings, Antlions, and Allies)
Coleoptera (Beetles, and Weevils)
Hymenoptera (Wasps, Ants, and Bees)
Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
Lepidoptera (Moths, Butterflies, and Skippers)
Mecoptera (Scorpionflies and their Allies)
Diptera (The Flies)
Strepsiptera (Stylopids)
Siphonaptera (Fleas)

Glossary

Index