Product Description

This is a guide to insect life in a part of the world known for its abundant, and endangered, life forms. The study embraces a vast geographical territory - Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean - and generous numbers of representative insects, to serve both the professional entomologist and the serious amateur. Hogue has selected insects and other terrestrial arthropods such as spiders and scorpions because they are common, conspicuous, or otherwise significant to humans (historically or agriculturally). He provides details of taxonomy, life history and behaviour, Spanish and Portuguese names and many valuable references. The introductory chapters include general and practical entomology, insect ecology and zoogeography, in addition to reviews of the major orders - all topics of fundamental interest and importance to entomological science in Latin America.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1814331 in Books
• Published on: 1993-09-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 594 pages

Customer Reviews

A great resource - and sadly overlooked
I was first recommended this book over a decade ago when working on a Venezuela field course for the University of California, Pomona. I had never heard of it, but one of the entomology professors assured me that it was the best available resource on Neotropical entomology - she was right! Given the dearth of identification materials on Latin American insects, this tome steps in to fill the breach as well as any single volume can. It is a useful introduction to the natural history of tropical insects and can also be used as a rough field guide allowing one to identify most insects to order, often to family and sometimes even to genus and species. In the absence of other books, this is the volume that students and amateurs should choose. The price is certainly a deterrent, but it's often available used. I have been using my well-tuhumbed copy in and out of the field for quite a few years so it has earned its keep!