Truly aquatic insects species are in North Europe found in ten different orders, representing a wide variety of form and life styles. Most diverse are the dipterans, the two-winged flies and midges, including among others the notorious blood-sucking pests of the boreal and subarctic regions. Other diverse orders are chiefly the beetles and caddisflies, including several hundreds of species occupying most of the available freshwater environments. Besides the aquatic beetles and bugs, insects classified as aquatic normally develop in water, whereas the adult flying forms are terrestrial. Swarming mayflies and hovering libellulas are well-known characteristics of lake and stream shores, whereas their aquatic larvae remain more anonymous for the general naturalist. On the contrary, insect larvae are nowadays widely used in environmental monitoring, the actual species composition at a locality providing reliable evidence on the impacts of acidification and pollution. Environmental applications have engaged many people in the identification of aquatic insect larvae, on scientific, commercial or governmental basis. However, these activities have been hampered by a general lack of an up-to-date standard work providing modern nomenclature and reliable identification keys including all known taxa from the region. The present handbook is designed to fill this gap, as far as taxonomic knowledge is available. Geographically, the handbook focuses on the Nordic Countries, i. e. Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Most information included will be correct also for the rest of Northern Europe, although some more southern taxa may be absent from the identification keys and check lists. The handbook is designed to serve several important purposes. The introductory text together with the many literature references provided for each order or family is a rich source of information on natural history, morphology, faunistics, classification and identification. The richly illustrated identification keys are generally given for both larvae and adults at least to the generic level. Check lists record the distributions of all known species from the region on a national basis.

"The third edition of Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates continues the tradition of in-depth coverage of the biology, ecology, phylogeny, and identification of freshwater invertebrates from the USA and Canada. This text serves as an authoritative single source for a broad coverage of the anatomy, physiology, ecology, and phylogeny of all major groups of invertebrates in inland waters of North America, north of Mexico." --Book Jacket.

A complete handbook which will provide an extensive introduction to the biology, ecology and behaviour of the Zygaenidae, a group of diurnal moths that has become one of the most intensively studied models of chemical and evolutionary biology. Consequently, the introduction will provide detailed information on zygaenid systematics and phylogeny, life cycles, morphology, zoogeography and palaeontology, genetics and individual variation, ecology and behaviour, conservation, collecting and breeding techniques. The general part concludes with an essay on the history of research on the Zygaenidae. In the systematic part of the book, the 115 species of westen Palaearctic Zygaenidae, currently contained in the three subfamilies Procridinae, Chalcosiinae and Zygaeninae, will be treated. Each species is briefly described, followed by ifferentiating characters of similar species, individual and geographical variation, distribution (with maps for each species), ecology, behaviour, early instars and larval foodplants. Colour plates illustrates all species and the male and female genitalia of the Procridinae are also figured. A bibliography will provide references to the most relevant literature for those interested in current research. 12 colour plates. Line drawings of genitalia. Distribution maps to all species. Other text figures.

Among the various groups of aquatic insects, mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are of special interest for professional limnologists and entomological researchers as well as for naturalists in general and even the dedicated fly angler. Identification has traditionally been considered difficult and implementation in environmental monitoring and freshwater management has led to an ever increasing demand for exact information on taxonomy and ecology. The present handbook is designed to provide for the first time an up-to-date standard work for Ephemeroptera identification, including last instar larvae (nymphs), subimago (dun), male and female imagines. Recent changes in nomenclature are discussed in detail as well as gaps in current knowledge and probable pitfalls concerning the reliable identification of all taxa known so far from the region. Keys are provided for genera and introductory chapters characterize every family and genus. Species accounts follow a common format providing a synonymy, characters for identification (including literature references), remarks (on type material, variation, confusing or extralimital species) and short information on biology and distribution pattern. Male genitalia are illustrated by micrographs and line drawings, REM photographs of the egg chorionic structure are provided for genera and selected species. Habitus of larvae and imagines are for most genera illustrated by colour photographs. The geographical area covered is Europe including the European part of Russia, the mediterranean islands and North Africa. Short additional information is provided for adjacent parts of the western Palaearctic Region. A comprehensive index, check-list and distribution catalogue (following the widely adopted concept of Illies’ Limnofauna Europaean) allow for quick information on all species recorded so far from Europe.

This book presents a broad view of the ecology and behavior of aquatic insects, raising awareness of this conspicuous and yet little known fauna that inhabits inland waterbodies such as rivers, lakes and streams, and is particularly abundant and diverse in tropical ecosystems. The chapters address topics such as distribution, dispersal, territoriality, mating behavior, parental care and the role of sensory systems in the response to external and internal cues. In the context of ecology, it discusses aquatic insects as bio indicators that may be used to assess environmental disturbances, either in protected or urban areas, and provides insights into how genetic connectivity can support the development of novel conservation strategies. It also explores how aquatic insects can inspire solutions for various problems faced by modern society, presenting examples in the fields of material science, optics, sensorics and robotics.

This volume deals with the Heteroptera aquatica, or water bugs, known from Malesia, a region holding almost 1000 species belonging to seventeen families. The book includes keys to all families and genera, and provides information on their taxonomy, morphology, biology, distribution and economic importance. A checklist of the species recorded from Malesia and nearby areas, with references to original descriptions of all taxa, is included. The book is illustrated by more than 500 drawings and 35 distribution maps. A glossary explains the technical terms is employed. An extensive list of references will enable readers to trace all pertinent taxonomic literature published up to the end of 2003.

Santo, the largest island in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, is an extraordinary geographical and cultural microcosm, combining reefs, caves, mountains, and satellite isles--with human history that dates back 3,000 years. Collecting contributions from more than one hundred authors, The Natural History of Santo is the result of a 2006 Santo expedition, which brought together scientists, volunteers, and students from twenty-five countries. This lavishly illustrated book pays homage to the biodiversity of this "planet-island" and bridges the gaps between scientific knowledge, conservation, and education.