Insect Metamorphosis: From Natural History to Regulation of Development and Evolution

Insect Metamorphosis: From Natural History to Regulation of Development and Evolution explores the origin of metamorphosis, how it evolved, and how it is it regulated. The book discusses insect metamorphosis as a key innovation in insect evolution. With most of the present biodiversity on Earth composed of metamorphosing insects—approximately 1 million species currently described, with another 10-30 million still waiting to be discovered, the book delves into misconceptions and past treatments. In addition, the topic of integrating insect metamorphosis into the theory of evolution by natural selection as noted by Darwin in his On the Origin of Species is also discussed.

Users will find this to be a comprehensive and updated review on insect metamorphosis, covering biological, physiological and molecular facets, with an emphasis on evolutionary aspects.

Features updated knowledge from the past decade on the mechanisms of action of juvenile hormone, the main doorkeeper of insect metamorphosisAids researchers in entomology or developmental biology dealing with specialized aspects of metamorphosisProvides applied entomologists with recently updated data, especially on regulation, to better face the problems of pest control and managementGives general evolutionary biologists context on the process of metamorphosis in its larger scope

1. The ideas of metamorphosis through time 2. Life cycles and modes of metamorphosis 3. Embryo development and metamorphosis 4. Postembryonic development. Molting 5. Hormones involved in the regulation of metamorphosis 6. Molecular mechanisms of hormonal action 7. The role of microRNAs in the regulation of metamorphosis 8. The origin of hemimetaboly 9. The evolution of metamorphosis