Grasslands comprise the largest and most diverse set of ecosystems in the United States and are among the most extensive in the world. Characterized by scanty rainfall, these western grasslands are too dry for crop production and are used almost exclusively for grazing livestock. The grasslands on the western edge of the Great Plains, known as the

This text brings together fundamental information on insect taxa, morphology, ecology, behavior, physiology, and genetics. Close relatives of insects, such as spiders and mites, are included.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1877.

The essential illustrated introduction to insects for nonscience majors Bugs Rule! provides a lively introduction to the biology and natural history of insects and their noninsect cousins, such as spiders, scorpions, and centipedes. This richly illustrated textbook features more than 830 color photos, a concise overview of the basics of entomology, and numerous sidebars that highlight and explain key points. Detailed chapters cover each of the major insect groups, describing their physiology, behaviors, feeding habits, reproduction, human interactions, and more. Ideal for nonscience majors and anyone seeking to learn more about insects and their arthropod relatives, Bugs Rule! offers a one-of-a-kind gateway into the world of these amazing creatures. Places a greater emphasis on natural history than standard textbooks on the subject Covers the biology and natural history of all the insect orders Provides a thorough review of the noninsect arthropods, such as spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, and crustaceans Features more than 830 color photos Highlights the importance of insects and other arthropods, including their impact on human society An online illustration package is available to professors

This book explores one of the most discussed and investigated novel foods in recent years: edible insects. The increasing demand for alternative protein sources worldwide had led the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to promote the potential of using insects both for feed and food, establishing a program called “Edible Insects.” Although several social, environmental, and nutritional benefits of the use of insects in the human diet have been identified, the majority of the population in Western countries rejects the idea of adopting insects as food, predominantly for cultural reasons. Nevertheless, international interest in promoting the consumption of insects has grown significantly, mainly in North America and Europe. This trend is mostly due to increasing attention and involvement from the scientific network and the food and feed industries, as well as governments and their constituents. The book explores the current state of entomophagy and identifies knowledge gaps to inform primary research institutions, students, members of the private sector, and policymakers to better plan, develop, and implement future research studies on edible insects as a sustainable source of food. The case studies and issues presented in this book cover highly up-to-date topics such as aspects of safety and allergies for human consumption, final meat quality of animals fed with insects, the legislative framework for the commercialization of this novel food, and other relevant issues.

Garden pests plague everyone who has ever raised vegetables, from backyard gardener to professional horticulturists, farm managers, and agrobusiness professionals. The economic impacts of vegetable pests are enormous. To manage and minimize the adverse impacts of pests, it is important to identify exactly which pests are afflicting crops. The Handbook of Vegetable Pests is intended to assist anyone in need of an easy-to-use, and yet comprehensive, survey of all pests likely to be encountered in North America. This Handbook provides thorough identification guides, descriptions of pest life history, and pest management recommendations. The text is well illustrated with hundreds of easy-to-use line drawings, is cross-referenced to the professional and scientific literature, and includes color plates for ease of insect pest identification. Every gardener, horticulturalist, farm manager, and plant science professional should have this Handbook as a ready desk reference.Key Features* Identification guides list the major and minor pests of each crop family and provide distinguishing characteristics for each pest * Includes pest profiles that describe the appearance, life history, and management of various pests * Over 600 black and white line drawings and over 100 color images to further aid in identification* Detailed glossary provided to help with the definition of some of the less known terms