The common insects of the Maltese Islands : a guide for teachers and students

Abstract

The present work consists of a guide to the commoner insects inhabiting the Maltese Islands. It is primarily intended for teachers and students who might wish to know more about the local insect fauna, but lack access to specialist literature. The following orders are included: the Thysanura (bristletails and silverfish), Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies), Orthoptera (grasshoppers, locusts and crickets), Dictyoptera (cockroaches and mantids) Dermaptera (earwigs), Isoptera (termites), Heteroptera (plant bugs), Homoptera (cicadas, hoppers, whiteflies, aphids and scale insects), Neuroptera (lacewings and antlions), Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (flies) and Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps). For each species listed, information is given on scientific and vernacular names, appearance, special characteristics including key diagnostic features, similar orders, immature stages, habitat preferences, importance and ecology. The work, while not intended to be purely an identification guide, has been presented in such a way as to permit recognition of the type of insect, at least to major group level. Colour photographs and/or black and white line drawings are provided for the 160 species included. Information on higher groupings, mostly at order and family level, is also provided. Key works on Maltese species and the current knowledge of the local insect fauna is reviewed. A glossary of entomological and other selected terms is included.