Mosquitoes of the World. Vol. 1 + 2

Description:

In this two-volume set, three of the world's leading experts on mosquito disease, ecology, and systematics offer readers unique insights into the fascinating world of mosquitoes while illustrating their diagnostic morphological features in detail. Comprehensively addressing the natural diversity of mosquitoes, the book explains their life histories, bionomic traits, and the physiological and physical adaptations they evolved in response to ever-changing environmental conditions. Mosquitoes are one of the best-known groups of insects, making this book a great starting place for anyone who would like to understand entomology by knowing the details about a representative family.

Vol. 1 contains a review of the biology and diversity of mosquitoes. Biology is treated in the following chapters: Evolution; Nomenclature; Distribution; Development; Dormancy; Mosquito Movement; Feeding and Nutrition; Excretion; Copulation; Insemination; Egg Development and Oviposition.

The chapters on biology are followed by a well-illustrated summary of the characteristics of all 41 genera and of representative species of mosquitoes. This treatment of the morphological diversity of mosquitoes is accompanied by a glossary of all morphological terms used.

Vol. 2 features:

* a long-awaited comprehensive mosquito taxonomic catalog detailing the current taxonomic and systematic status of all 3,698 valid species and subspecies, 41 genera, and 187 subgenera

* a list of all taxa for definitive use of nomenclature

* complete lists of species synonyms, distributions, key taxonomic works, and newly defined informal names

* origins of scientific names

Readers will discover that some mosquitoes undertake courtship rituals, while others guard their eggs, feed solely on earthworms, or can survive as immatures under ice sheets or in salt-encrusted pools. Hundreds of drawings and high-resolution, close-up images illustrate the text. The most complete reference work on mosquitoes ever produced, this work is an unmatched resource for entomologists, public health professionals, epidemiologists, and reference libraries.