The Natural History of Insects

The Preston-Mafham brothers have written a number of books on invertebrates. This current work is an introduction to insects, the most numerous group of animals on our planet. The first two chapters acquaint the reader with exactly what makes an insect an insect and describe their structure and physiology. The third chapter provides a good overview of the classification of the one million (at least) species; classification is the most difficult subject for the lay reader to understand, and the authors have provided the right amount of detail. The remainder of the book is concerned with the behavior and the ecology of insects. These animals are both very familiar and very alien, demonstrating lifestyles and behaviors that are similar to those of mammals and birds (parental care) or unique to themselves (generations born by "virgin birth"). This well-written overview of one of the most successful group of organisms is recommended for all libraries. Nancy Bent