Indian insects : diversity and science : a festschrift for Professor C. A. Viraktamath's 75th birthday

"Insects are useful as pollinators of crops and wild plants and many are useful as natural enemies of pestiferous insects. It is important to conserve these insects, hence there is a need for reliable identification techniques for these insects. This volume brings together indigenous taxonomic expertise on various taxa of insects from India"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments Editors Chandrashekaraswami Adiveyya Viraktamath: The Prince of Indian Taxonomists Contributors Chapter 1: Why Are Insects Abundant? Chance or Design? Chapter 2: Mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) of India Chapter 3: Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of India Chapter 4: Stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera) of India Chapter 5: Taxonomy of Orthoptera with Emphasis on Acrididae Chapter 6: Taxonomy and Biodiversity of Soft Scales (Hemiptera: Coccidae) Chapter 7: Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) of India Chapter 8: Pentatomidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea) of India Chapter 9: Indian Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) Chapter 10: Scelionidae and Platygastridae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) of India Chapter 11: Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae: Bombini) of India Chapter 12: Potter Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) of India Chapter 13: Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae): Their History and Future in Indian Biological Studies Chapter 14: Coccinellidae of the Indian Subcontinent Chapter 15: Flea Beetles of South India (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) Chapter 16: Taxonomy, Systematics, and Biology of Indian Butterflies in the 21st Century Chapter 17: Taxonomy and Diversity of Indian Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) Chapter 18: Hover-Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) Recorded from “Dravidia,” or Central and Peninsular India and Sri Lanka: An Annotated Checklist and Bibliography Chapter 19: A Comparative Study of Antennal Mechanosensors in Insects Chapter 20: Cross-Kingdom Interactions in Natural Microcosms: The Worlds Within Fig Syconia and Ant-Plant Domatia Annexure I: Revisions and Reviews of Taxa by Professor C. A. Viraktamath Annexure II: New Tribe and Genera Described by Professor C. A. Viraktamath Annexure III: New Species Described by Professor C. A. Viraktamath Annexure IV: Research Publications of Professor C. A. Viraktamath Annexure V: Taxa Named in Honour of Professor C. A. Viraktamath Annexure VI: Courses Offered by Professor C. A. Viraktamath Annexure VII: Theses Submitted Under the Guidance of Professor C. A. Viraktamath (1980–2019) Annexure VIII: Research Projects Operated by Professor C. A. Viraktamath Index Insects are the most interesting and diverse group of organisms on earth, many of which are useful as pollinators of crops and wild plants while others are useful as natural enemies keeping pestiferous insects in check. It is important to conserve these insects for our survival and for this the diversity of insect species inhabiting the different ecosystems of our country must be known. The cornerstone to studies of any kind of organismal diversity is their taxonomic identity. Even after over two and half centuries of studies, so little is known of the insect wealth of our country. It has contributions from taxonomists who have been studying Indian insects for long, this book offers up to date information on many important groups of Indian insects seeking to fill the lacuna of a long felt need for a comprehensive work on the taxonomy of Indian insects.Salient features: Provides an up-to-date taxonomy of major insect groups of India Presents identification keys with illustrations of several important groups of Indian insects Gives a new insight into why insects are so abundant Addresses fundamental questions in mechanoreception and cross kingdom interactions using insects as model systems Indian Insects: Diversity and Science is a festschrift to Professor C. A. Viraktamath, an insect taxonomist par excellence. It has been designed to cater to the needs of academicians, researchers and students who wish to identify insects collected from local environments and will be an invaluable aid for those working in the areas of systematics, ecology, behaviour, diversity and the conservation of insects.