Pollinators, parasites, purifiers, predators, decomposers - insects arguably play the most important roles in the functioning of the Earth's ecosystems. This lavishly illustrated and highly authoritative book is structured around southern Africa's 13 distinct biomes; it reflects the essential role insects play in most ecological processes such as pollination, predation, parasitism, soil modification and nutrient recycling; details how they serve as food for multitudes of other organisms, including bacteria and fungi, as well as specially adapted plants, insect-feeding arthropods, reptiles, birds and mammals; depicts the insects and phenomena described in some 2,000 photographs that accompany the accessible text; highlights the crucial role insects play as ecosystem service providers, giving intimate insight into the beauty and importance of insects in the natural world. Includes a guide to each of the 25 insect orders found in southern Africa, with images showing their diagnostic characters. This key publication detailing the latest research in the field of entomology will appeal to academics and nature enthusiasts alike.

About the Author
Clarke Scholtz, emeritus professor of entomology at the University of Pretoria, continues to teach undergraduates, supervise postgraduates and conduct entomological research. He has published many papers on insect systematics, biology and conservation, and has authored or co-authored a range of books on the insects of southern Africa. Jenny Scholtz studied nature conservation and worked for a conservation NGO. Her focus later turned to the study of insects, culminating in her co-authoring this book.


Book Information
ISBN 9781775845553
Author Clarke Scholtz
Format Hardback
Page Count 448
Imprint Struik Nature
Publisher Penguin Random House South Africa