Insects and Society

Prof. Timothy Schowalter received his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Georgia, USA (1979), where he studied insect responses to forest harvest practices. He subsequently trained as a postdoctoral fellow at Texas A&M University, USA, studying bark beetle population dynamics and effects on pine forest ecosystems. He continued to work on insect responses to changing forest conditions and effects on forest ecosystems as a professor at Oregon State University, USA, for 22 years (1981- 2003). Much of his research has been in conjunction with the US Long Term Ecological Research Network. Prof. Schowalter moved to Louisiana State University in 2003 as Department Head of Entomology, serving in that capacity until 2015.

• 1 Introduction 2 What Makes Insects Different? 3 Insect Effects on Human History 4 Nuisances 5 Structural Pests 6 Venomous and Poisonous Arthropods 7 Parasites and Disease Transmission 8 Crop Pests 9 Forest Pests 10 Insects as Food 11 Medical and Industrial Materials 12 Cultural Value and Artistic Expression 13 Crop Pollination 14 Decomposition 15 Biological Control 16 Forensic Science 17 Insects as Indicators of Environmental Change 18 Why Do Insects Become Pests? 19 Deciding When and How to Control Insects 20 Concluding Remarks

"In this well-written, authoritative text, Schowalter explores the many beneficial and harmful effects that insects have on human life."-- D. A. Brass, independent scholar, February 2021, Vol 58, No. 6, CHOICE."Insects are the most species-rich and important organisms on earth, and that’s why there are many university courses dedicated to the topic of Insects and Society. But, surprisingly, this is the first textbook specifically created for those courses. The content in this textbook is not only ideal for introductory courses, but it also is great for K12 instructors, insatiably curious children, and indeed anyone fascinated by insects and their impact on people."-- Robert K. D. Peterson, Ph.D., Professor of Entomology, Montana State University and Past President, Entomological Society of America"Society is undervaluing the role of insects as pivotal drivers of ecosystem functioning and services. Addressing this deficit is a major merit of this book."-- Teja Tscharntke, Professor and Head of the Agroecology Research Group at the University of Göttingen, Germany