Preface

This book includes contributions on various topics pertaining to arthropods written by experts in their respective fields. It is an invaluable resource for entomologists, biologists, ecologists, zoologists, teachers, and students. The topics presented in this book are organized under four main sections: "Development", "Food Detection and Feeding Behavior", "Vector-Borne Diseases", and "Structure and Function of Vision".

In the first section, Chapter 1, "Larval Development of Non-Insect Arthropods: Metamorphosis and Sexual Differentiation", discusses the larval development of non-insect arthropods with respect to metamorphosis, sexual determination and differentiation, and the role of juvenile and molting hormones. More specifically, a comparison is made to insect metamorphosis, but emphasis is placed on decapod crustaceans and chelicerates. With respect to sex determination and differentiation, phenotypic differences that allow for sexual dimorphism of animal morphology, physiology, and behavior are discussed. The role of the DMRT gene is addressed in terms of its role in sex determination.

Chapter 2, "Spatiotemporal Dynamics of *Bemisia tabaci* MEAM1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Commercial Soybean Crops", covers spatiotemporal dynamics of crop pests in determining the colonization and dispersion patterns of insects using geostatistics. More specifically, it discusses devastating crop losses in soybeans attributed to whitefly populations and their monitoring and management.

In the second section, Chapter 3, "Food Detection and Feeding Behavior of Three Species of Household Cockroaches, *Blatella germanica* (L.), *Periplaneta americana* (L.), and *Supella longipalpa* (F.)" analyzes the importance of these pests. These insects have been blamed for producing/contributing to medical conditions such as allergies and asthma. In addition, they are vectors that transmit pathogenic bacteria. The author investigates the physiology of all three species with a focus on their circadian rhythm patterns, visual sensitivity, food-searching behavior, and attraction to selected foods. The development of various bait traps and the insects' resistance to them is covered as well.

Chapter 4, "Interaction Among the Multi-Trophic Lac Insect Complex of Flora and Fauna: Impact on Quantity and Quality of the Resin Secreted", covers a specialized group of phytosuccivorous insects that secrete resin of industrial importance. Factors affecting lac production and quality are discussed, as well as major and minor predators, parasites, and diseases capable of destroying lac crops. The effect of fungi on lac production and the interaction of lac insects with microbes are covered as well.

Chapter 5, "The Ability of Insects to Degrade Complex Synthetic Polymers", covers insect gut anatomy. It provides information about the synergy between gut microorganisms and the digestive enzymes of selected lepidoptera, coleoptera, and orthoptera in breaking down complex synthetic hydrocarbon polymers, such as polyurethane, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride.

Chapter 6, "Deterrents and Their Effects on the Feeding Behavior and Sensory Physiology of Insects", examines the gustatory system of lepidopterous insects. These insects have served as prominent models for carrying out neuroscience research. The chapter discusses the structural organization of taste organs as visualized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the author provides a discussion of the responses of selected lepidopterous larvae to secondary plant compounds, such as glucosinolates. More specifically, details are included as to how taste signals are recognized, coded, and processed by receptor cells housed in two specific sensory organs (sensilla), namely, the medial and lateral styloconic sensilla. These sensillas serve as the primary organs involved in feeding when the caterpillar feeds. The author examines the feeding behavior, hostplant preferences, and neurophysiological responses of sensory organs involved in peripheral gustatory coding.

chromatography. The antioxidant activity of ommochromes is included, as is a discussion of new pharmacological preparations for the prevention and treatment of ocular

I wish to thank IntechOpen for initiating this book project and inviting me to serve as the editor. I would like to acknowledge Publishing Process Manager Romina Rovan Bakarčić for guiding me through the process. I would like to thank all the authors who contributed to this book for their hard work in submitting and editing their contributions. I would also like to thank an anonymous reviewer for revising the chapter that I contributed. Finally, I thank my husband Dr. Thomas Heinbockeland, and our son Torben Heinbockel for their patience and understanding when I was working on this

**Dr. Vonnie D.C. Shields**

Biological Sciences Department,

Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics,

Associate Dean,

Professor,

Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

pathologies.

book project.

In the third section, Chapter 7, "Vector-Borne Diseases and Climate Change", discusses various arthropod species (e.g., ticks, fleas, sandflies, mosquitoes, triatomine bugs, and blackflies) as vectors of numerous protozoan, bacterial, and virus insectborne diseases, which result in Dengue fever, West Nile Virus, Lyme disease, malaria, and tick-borne diseases. The importance of climate change on vector-borne diseases and how it influences the survival, reproduction, abundance, and spatiotemporal distribution of vectors is explored. The rate of development and survival of pathogens within the vector-host is also considered.

Chapter 8, "Overview of the Main Species of Ticks and Animal and Human Tick-Related Diseases in the Caribbean, Particularly in Haiti", looks at the wide diversity of ticks and tick-borne diseases in humans and other animals in the Caribbean region. More specifically, the chapter focuses on the classification, morphology, and life cycle of ticks, as well as the transmission of tick-borne diseases. The authors explore the physical, geographical, and climatological characteristics and provide an analysis of epidemiological surveillance of pathogens.

Chapter 9, "Artrhopods: Prospect of Household Food Security", covers food inadequacy and the shortage of protein-rich foods in low-income households in developing countries and the exploitation of nutrient potentials acquired from using arthropods as food sources. It covers topics such as the nutritional composition of edible insects (i.e., protein, carbohydrate, mineral/vitamin, lipid, and secondary metabolites) as well as medicinal benefits, farming, and harvesting.

Chapter 10, "Capybara Ticks and the Urban Context of Spotted Fever in Brazil: An Overview", investigates how Capybara ticks play a detrimental role in amplifying Brazilian spotted fever among tick vector populations. The authors discuss how this situation leads to significant negative health impacts. Overall, the chapter discusses various aspects of Brazilian spotted fever, its urban occurrences and relationships between humans and other animal species, and the design of strategies and policies to protect the health of ecosystems.

In the fourth and final section, Chapter 11, "Ommochromes of the Compound Eye of Arthropods from the Insects and Crustaceans Classes: Physicochemical Properties and Antioxidant Activity", examines the main functions of ommochromes, their chemical structure and biosynthesis, and the physicochemical properties of isolated ommochromes using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and liquid

chromatography. The antioxidant activity of ommochromes is included, as is a discussion of new pharmacological preparations for the prevention and treatment of ocular pathologies.

I wish to thank IntechOpen for initiating this book project and inviting me to serve as the editor. I would like to acknowledge Publishing Process Manager Romina Rovan Bakarčić for guiding me through the process. I would like to thank all the authors who contributed to this book for their hard work in submitting and editing their contributions. I would also like to thank an anonymous reviewer for revising the chapter that I contributed. Finally, I thank my husband Dr. Thomas Heinbockeland, and our son Torben Heinbockel for their patience and understanding when I was working on this book project.

> **Dr. Vonnie D.C. Shields** Associate Dean, Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

> > Professor, Biological Sciences Department, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

**1**

Section 1

Development

Section 1 Development

## **Chapter 1**
