Author Description

This work establishes a solid framework for the study of the nutritional ecology of insects, mites, spiders, and related invertebrates. With 32 chapters by 47 researchers, the book examines how the characteristics of a food influence evolution of consumer performance and how individual animals alter performance in response to changes in food characteristics and associated biotic and abiotic environmental factors. In addition, the book discusses the relevance of this information to understanding the biology and ecology of these animals within the basic context of the evolution of diverse lifestyles and the applied context of management of beneficial and pest species. By raising these issues, the contributors also focus attention on the deficiencies in knowledge about nutritional ecology and indicate priorities for future research.