Dr George C. McGavin is the Assistant Curator of the Entomological Collections in the Oxford University Museum,
one of the worlds' largest insect collections. He is also Lecturer in Biological and Human Sciences at Jesus College,
Oxford and a member of the Expedition Council and Advisory Committee of the Oxford University Exploration Club.
In addition to scientific papers, he has written many books on bugs and other insects for adults and children and
is also known on radio and television. He eats insects regularly and currently has three insect species named in
his honour. Illustrations by Richard Lewington, highly-respected and renowned insect artist
Summary
An up-to-date order-by-order introduction and reference handbook for students of biological sciences in general
and entomology in particular. Covers all the important groups on a worldwide basis and explains what makes insects
successful. The book is in three sections: first is a straightforward introduction to insect biology; followed
by a section on field work; lastly an order-by-order catalog of the insects giving essential facts and details
of life-histories, highlighting what makes each order distinct. To make the material as accessible as possible,
the information for each order is presented in a standard manner and is written in a straighforward style with
as little technical language as possible. Essential terms are fully explained in context with marginal notes. A
pictoral guide, specially commissioned by Richard Lewington, is included to aid in the identification of the orders.
Table of Contents
Preface
INTRODUCTION TO INSECT EVOLUTION AND BIOLOGY
The evolution of the arthropods
Five factors in a winning formula
Insect structure
KEY TO THE INSECT ORDERS
THE INSECT ORDERS
The primitively wingless insects
Archaeognatha
Thysanura
The winged insects
Ephemeroptera
Odonata
Neoptera
Plecoptera
Blattodea
Isoptera
Mantodea
Grylloblattodea
Dermaptera
Orthoptera
Phasmatodea
Embioptera
Zoraptera
Psocoptera
Phthiraptera
Hemiptera
Thysanoptera
Megaloptera
Raphidioptera
Neuroptera
Coleoptera
Strepsiptera
Mecoptera
Siphonaptera
Diptera
Tichoptera
Hymenoptera
FIELD WORK
Bibliography
Index
