Insects and Society - Timothy D. Schowalter

Insects are all around us, outweighing humanity by 17 times. Many are nuisances; they compete with us for food and carry some of our most devastating diseases. Yet, recent reports suggest dramatic declines in some important groups, such as pollinators and detritivores. Should we care?

Yes, we should. Without insect pollinators we’d lose 35% of our global food production; without detritivores, we would be buried in un-decayed refuse. Insects are also critical sources for nutritional, medical and industrial products. So why do insects inspire such fear and loathing? This concise, full-color text will challenge many of your perceptions about insect effects on our lives. Simply put, life as we know it would likely disappear in the absence of insects.

Beginning with a summary of insect biology and ecology that affect their interactions with other organisms, the book goes on to describe the various positive and negative ways in which insects and humans interact. The final chapters describe factors that affect insect abundance and approaches to managing insects that balance their impacts. The first textbook specifically focused on how insects and humans interact and to cater directly to those studying Insect and Society or Insect Ecology modules, the new expanded edition includes updated information and additional figures throughout, as well as deeper exploration of ecosystem services as these influence our survival and well-being. A new chapter considers the insect traits that underlie their effects on human lives.

As well as being a recommended text for undergraduate students, this book is fascinating reading for amateur entomologists, conservation practitioners, environmentalists, as well as natural resource managers, land use planners and environmental policy makers.