Pollinators, Predators & Parasites

A detailed overview of insect life in the region.

Insects arguably play the most important roles in the functioning of the Earth's ecosystems - the natural world could not function without them. And southern Africa is home to a particularly rich insect diversity, which is intricately examined in this lavishly illustrated and authoritative book. Structured around 13 distinct biomes within the region, the book scrutinises the insects associated with each system - both endemics and those more widely distributed - and explores the essential roles that insects play in processes such as pollination, predation, parasitism, soil modification and nutrient recycling. It also highlights their value as an essential food source for multitudes of other organisms, from bacteria and fungi to cunningly adapted plants, insect-feeding arthropods, reptiles, birds and mammals.
The book explores intriguing, often remarkable aspects of insect life, described in an accessible text and illustrated in some 1,600 photographs. It concludes with a guide to each of the 25 insect orders found in southern Africa, accompanied by images that depict their diagnostic characters.
This intimate insight into the beauty and diversity of southern African insects and their importance as service providers underlines their great value, and, it is hoped, will promote conservation of these key players of the natural world.