The Principles of Insect Physiology

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

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2. Development in the Egg

   • V. B. Wigglesworth

   Pages 1-26

3. The Integument

   • V. B. Wigglesworth

   Pages 27-60

4. Growth

   • V. B. Wigglesworth

   Pages 61-145

5. Muscular System and Locomotion

   • V. B. Wigglesworth

   Pages 146-177

6. Nervous and Endocrine Systems

   • V. B. Wigglesworth

   Pages 178-214

7. Sense Organs: Vision

   • V. B. Wigglesworth

   Pages 215-255

8. Sense Organs: Mechanical and Chemical Senses

   • V. B. Wigglesworth

   Pages 256-309

9. Behaviour

   • V. B. Wigglesworth

   Pages 310-356

10. Respiration

    • V. B. Wigglesworth

    Pages 357-410

11. The Circulatory System and Associated Tissues

    • V. B. Wigglesworth

    Pages 411-475

12. Digestion and Nutrition

    • V. B. Wigglesworth

    Pages 476-552

13. Excretion

    • V. B. Wigglesworth

    Pages 553-592

14. Metabolism

    • V. B. Wigglesworth

    Pages 593-662

15. Water and Temperature

    • V. B. Wigglesworth

    Pages 663-699

16. Reproductive System

    • V. B. Wigglesworth

    Pages 700-763

17. Back Matter

    Pages 765-827

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INSECTS PROVIDE an ideal medium in which to study all the problems of physiology. But if this medium is to be used to the best advantage, the principles and peculiarities of the insect's organization must be first appreciated. It is the purpose of this book to set forth these principles so far as they are understood at the present day. There exist already many excellent text-books of general ento­ mology; notably those of Imms, Weber, and Snodgrass, to mention only the more recent. But these authors have necessarily been preoccupied chiefly with describing the diversity of form among insects; discussions on function being correspondingly condensed. In the present work the emphasis is reversed. Struc­ ture is described only to an extent sufficient to make the physiological argument intelligible. Every anatomical peculiarity, every ecological specialization, has indeed its physiological counterpart. In that sense, anatomy, physiology and ecology are not separable. But regarded from the standpoint from which the present work is written, the endless modifications that are met with among insects are but illustrations of the general principles of their physiology, which it is the aim of this book to set forth. Completeness in such a work is not possible, or desirable; but an endeavour has been made to illustrate each physiological characteristic by a few concrete examples, and to include sufficient references to guide the student to the more important sources. The physiology of insects is to some the handmaid of Economic Entomology.

• development
• ecology
• entomology
• growth
• insects
• metabolism
• nervous system
• physiology
• reproduction
• respiration

• University of Cambridge, UK

  V. B. Wigglesworth

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