The Biology of Blood-Sucking in Insects

Fully updated since it was first published in 1991, this second edition focuses on the biological modifications common to blood-sucking insects and outlines their medical, social and economic impact. It also covers host-insect interactions and the transmission of parasites by blood-sucking insects. The final chapter is designed as a useful quick-reference section. Blood-sucking insects transmit many of the most debilitating diseases of man including malaria sleeping sickness, filariasis, leishmaniasis, dengue, typhus and plague. In addition these insects cause major economic losses in agriculture both by direct damage to livestock and because of the veterinary diseases, such as the various trypanosomiases that they transmit. The second edition of The Biology of Blood Sucking insects is a unique, topic-led commentary on the biological themes that are common in the lives of blood-sucking insects. To do this effectively it concentrates on those aspects of the biology of these fascinating insects that have been clearly modified in some way to suit the blood-sucking habit. The book opens with a brief outline of the medical, social and economic impact of blood-sucking insects. Further chapters cover the evolution of the blood-sucking habit, feeding preferences, host location, the ingestion of blood and the various physiological adaptations for dealing with the blood meal. Discussions on host-insect interactions and the transmission of parasites by blood-sucking insects are followed by the final chapter, which is designed as a useful quick-reference section covering the different groups of insects referred to in the text.The second edition of The Biology of Blood-Sucking Insects has been fully updated since the first edition was published in 1991. It is written in a clear, concise fashion and is well illustrated throughout with a variety of specially prepared line illustrations and photographs. The text provides a summary of knowledge about this important group of insects and will be of direct interest to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in medical and veterinary parasitology and entomology. Blood-sucking insects transmit many of the most debilitating diseases to man including malaria, sleeping sickness, filariasis, dengue, typhus and plague. Additionally these insects cause major economic losses in agriculture by direct damage to livestock. This new edition of The Biology of Blood-Sucking in Insects has been fully updated since it was first published in 1991. It provides a unique, topic-led commentary on the biological aspects that are common to blood-sucking insects. This account focuses on the biological adaptations that clearly suit the blood-sucking habit and further discusses host–insect interactions and the transmission of parasites by blood-sucking insects. It also outlines the medical, social and economic impact of blood-sucking insects. The final chapter is designed as a useful quick-reference section. Written in a clear, concise fashion and well illustrated throughout, the text will be of direct interest to advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of medical and veterinary entomology and parasitology. The Second Edition Of The Biology Of Blood-sucking Insects Has Been Fully Updated Since The First Edition Was Published In 1991. It Is Written In A Clear, Concise Fashion And Is Well Illustrated Throughout With A Variety Of Specially Prepared Line Illustrations And Photographs. The Text Provides A Summary Of Knowledge About This Important Group Of Insects And Will Be Of Direct Interest To Advanced Undergraduate And Postgraduate Students In Medical And Veterinary Parasitology And Entomology.--jacket. 1. The Importance Of Blood-sucking Insects -- 2. The Evolution Of The Blood-sucking Habit -- 3. Feeding Preferences Of Blood-sucking Insects -- 4. Location Of The Host -- 5. Ingestion Of The Blood Meal -- 6. Managing The Blood Meal -- 7. Host-insect Interactions -- 8. Transmission Of Parasites By Blood-sucking Insects -- 9. The Blood-sucking Insect Groups. M.j. Lehane. Previous Ed. Published As: Biology Of Blood-sucking Insects. / Harpercollins, 1991. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 1 The importance of blood-suckinginsects......Page 17 2 The evolution of the bloodsuckinghabit......Page 23 3 Feeding preferences of bloodsuckinginsects......Page 31 4 Location of the host......Page 43 5 Ingestion of the blood meal......Page 72 6 Managing the blood meal......Page 100 7 Host–insect interactions......Page 132 8 Transmission of parasites by blood-sucking insects......Page 166 9 The blood-sucking insect groups......Page 218 References......Page 275 Index......Page 328 This second edition looks at the favourable biological modifications of these insects and also considers the economical, social and medical aspects