The Evolution of mating systems in insects and arachnids /

As noted on the dustjacket,"this book investigates sexual competition in these groups, and the variety of ways in which males and females pursue, persuade, manipulate, control and help one another, enabling us to gain a better understanding of how conflicts and confluences of interest evolve together." The book includes 21 chapters authored by 36 scientists who are researching mating systems in a wide range of insect and arachnid groups. Darwin's 1871 sexual selection theory remained largely dormant for nearly a century, but, according to the editors, it is now "the most active topic in behavioral ecology." Chapters include evolutionary perspectives in insect mating, sexual selection by cryptic female choice, odonate mating patterns, reproductive strategies of crickets, edible "sperm sacs" in Orthoptera, mating systems in Zoraptera, water strider mating systems, multiple mating and sperm competition in leaf beetles, firefly mating, sexuality in neuropteroids, mating systems of parasitoid wasps, mate-signaling in moths, sexual dimorphism in butterflies, lek behavior, mate choice in swarming insects, mating systems in pseudoscorpions, mating strategies in jumping spiders, and sexual conflict and the evolution of mating systems. The extremely interesting chapters are generally well written and nicely illustrated with black-and-white photographs and drawings. Recommended. Undergraduate and graduate students. R. C. Graves; Bowling Green State University