Forest Insects in Europe: Diversity, Functions and Importance

Description

Forest insects play important roles ecologically and economically. They pollinate plants, decompose dead plant and animal tissue, provide food for vertebrates, regulate pest organisms and shape entire landscapes. Some are considered pests, while others provide usable products. Introduced species may become invasive, while the survival of others is threatened. Forest Insects in Europe: Diversity, Functions and Importance has been written not only with professional entomologists in mind, but also for nature lovers generally. The descriptions of the various roles insects play in forest ecosystems are intended to be easily comprehensible, but still scientific. The book is richly illustrated with attractive photos and contains 580 fascinating colour images of more than 300 different insect and spider species. The German edition was awarded the Prix Moulines by the Swiss Entomological Society in 2019. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Preface Author Acknowledgments 1. Diversity and functions of insects 1.1. Diversity of species and lifestyles 1.2. The forest habitat 1.3. The most important insect groups in the forest 1.4. Ecological functions and economic significance Ecological functions 2. Insects and plant reproduction 2.1. Pollination of flowers 2.2. Dissemination of seeds 2.3. Influence on plant competition 2.4. Feeding on flowers and fruits 3. Turnover of green plant biomass 3.1. Caterpillar feeding 3.2. Other plant feeders 3.3. Plant-sap-sucking insects 4. Decomposition of wood 4.1. Colonizers of living trees 4.2. Pioneers on dead trees 4.3. Insects of the decomposition phase 4.4. Secondary dwellers in feeding galleries 4.5. Colonizers of tree fungi 4.6. Natural enemies of deadwood insects 5. Exploitation of animal waste 5.1. Colonization of carrion 5.2. Processing faeces 5.3. Other animal waste products 6. Maintaining soil fertility 6.1. Improving the soil structure 6.2. Decomposing organic matter 7. Food for other organisms 7.1. Food for birds 7.2. Food for other vertebrates 7.3. Hosts for microorganisms, fungi and parasitic worms 7.4. Insect products 8. Natural enemies 8.1. Predatory insects 8.2. Predatory spiders and mites 8.3. Parasitoids 8.4. True parasites 9. Antagonists of bark beetles 9.1. Prey and host location 9.2. Predators 9.3. Parasitoid wasps 9.4. Woodpeckers 9.5. Pathogens 9.6. Impact of antagonists 10. Ecological significance of red wood ants 10.1. Life forms and natural enemies 10.2. The ant nest 10.3. Establishing a colony 10.4. Ecological functions 11. Transport of organisms 11.1. Vectors of invertebrates 11.2. Vectors of fungi 12. Maintaining stand vitality 13. Shaping of ecosystems 13.1. From microhabitats to landscapes 13.2. The larch budmoth in Switzerland’s Engadine 13.3. Bark beetles create new habitats Economic significance 14. Economic damage 14.1. Leaf- and needle-feeding insects 14.2. Sucking insects 14.3. Bark beetles and other bark colonizers 14.4. Transmission of plant diseases 15. Insects and human health 15.1. Disease-transmitting ticks 15.2. Caterpillars with urticating hairs 15.3. Stinging insects 15.4. Medically useful insects 16. Usable insect products 16.1. Edible products 16.2. Commodities 16.3. Insects as food for human consumption 17. Introduced species 17.1. Invasive species in forests 17.2. Other alien species on woody plants 18. Endangered forest insects 18.1. Endangered forest butterflies 18.2. Endangered deadwood dwellers Bibliography Photo credits Glossary Species and subject index