SpringerLink Springer Biomedical and Life Sciences eBooks 2017 English+International

Incluye referencias bibliográficas e índice

Foreword; Why Every Exchange Counts; Contents; About the Author; The Quality Seal; Imprint; 1 Introduction; References; 2 Insects as Beneficials; 2.1 Insects Pollinate Plants; 2.1.1 Pollination; 2.1.2 Plants and Their Pollinators; 2.1.3 Flies, the Unknown Pollinators; 2.1.4 The Value of Insect Pollination; 2.2 Insects Accelerate Plant Growth; 2.3 Insects Promote Biodiversity; 2.4 Insects Connect the Food Chain; 2.5 Insects as the Most Important Element of Nutrition; 2.5.1 Insects as Food; 2.5.2 Insects as Feed; 2.6 Insects Help Considerably with Hygiene.

2.7 Insects as Inexpensive Biocide Alternatives2.8 Insects Support the Economy and Society; References; 3 Insects as Pests; 3.1 Insects as a Danger to Humans; 3.1.1 Virus-Transmitting Insects; 3.1.2 Causes and Trends of Virus Transmission; 3.1.3 Diseases that Are Caused by Mosquitoes; 3.1.4 Diseases that Are Caused by Ticks; 3.1.5 Other Dangers Caused by Insects; 3.2 Insects as a Danger to Animals; 3.2.1 Nagana; 3.2.2 Bluetongue Disease; 3.2.3 Schmallenberg Virus; 3.2.4 Louping-Ill; 3.3 Insects as a Danger to Plants; 3.3.1 Agricultural Damage in Developing and Threshold Nations.

3.3.2 Agricultural Damage in Europe3.3.3 Forest Damage; References; 4 Insects Today and in the Future; 4.1 Anthropogenic Effects on Habitats; 4.1.1 Climate Change; 4.1.2 Urbanization and Traffic; 4.1.3 Agriculture; 4.1.4 Sulfur and Nitrogen Emissions; 4.1.5 Forestry; 4.2 Population Development; 4.3 Outlook; References; 5 Conclusion: Hated, Threatened, and Worth Protecting; Reference; Glossary; Why Insects Deserve more Respect; Index.

This book discusses the beneficial and harmful effects of insects and explains their development and significance for biodiversity. Threatening pests or threatened beneficials? Biting midges are wonderful insects. The animals are so tiny and uniquely shaped that they are particularly good at pollinating the small and tight flowers of the cocoa tree. Without them, there would be much less chocolate. We associate other insects more with the damage that they cause. Mosquitoes and wasps bite us. Moth larvae damage textiles and contaminate foods. Ants undermine our paths and flies are just a pain. But what exactly is our relationship with insects? Are they more beneficial or harmful? What role do they play in the world? What are the effects of climate change: Will the number of insects continue to increase?