Arthropod Resources

Collections of arthropod-relevant references

Please note: this list of resources is (as of 2003) not being actively maintained. If/when this curriculum becomes actively used again at the NHMLAC, we will revise it. Until then, feel free to use this, but be aware that there may be broken links or outdated references.

Arthropod and Insect Keys [PDF]: http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/academics/course.offerings/physbo/biology/watson/insectID.pdf
Download and print out a PDF file of nicely prepared dicotomous keys to insects and related arthroods.
Beetles [HTML]: http://www.coleoptera.org
Distinguishing characteristics of beetles, journal and book lists; searchable databases; links to suppliers, dealers, catologs, systematists, glossaries, and much more.
Biology Textbook [Print]: Campbell, N. A., J. B. Reece, and L. G. Mitchell. 1999. Biology. 5th edition. Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company, Inc., Redwood City, CA, 1174 pp.
The Blind Watchmaker [Print]: Dawkins, Richard. 1991. The Blind Watchmaker. Penguin Publisher, London.
A superb presentation of the power of natural selection to create order from disorder.
Insect Book Notices and Book Reviews [HTML]: http://www.ub.es/dpep/meganeura/807book.htm
Books on a variety of insect subjects.
Invertebrate Textbook [Print]: Brusca, R. C. and G. J. Brusca. 1990. Invertebrates. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA. 922 pp., 603 figs.
Invertebrate Textbook [Print]: Barnes, R. S. K., P. Calow, and P. J. W. Olive. 1993. The Invertebrates: A New Synthesis. Blackwell Scientific.
Interactive Morph Lab Based on Dawkins' Biomorphs [HTML]: http://alife.fusebox.com/morph_lab.html
Illustrates the power of selection on heritable traits in combination with variation to generate evolving morphology.
Darwin's Origin of Species [HTML]: http://www.literature.org/authors/darwin-charles/the-origin-of-species
Darwin, Charles. 1859. The Origin of Species. (Reprinted) Penguin Publishers, London.
The original description of Darwin's idea that the evolution of organisms over time could be accounted for through natural selection. Surprisingly readable, compared to most modern scientific writing.
Orthopteran Dissection [HTML]: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/ref/anatomy/ihop/
Grasshopper dissection with respiratory, reproductive, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems labeled.
PCR Animation [HTML]: http://vector.cshl.org/Shockwave/pcranwhole.html
Biology Animation Library Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Mac OS9 and earlier users note: you may need to increase your memory allocation of your webbrowser (Netscape, Internet Explorer, etc.) to run "Shockwave" plugin. Setting preferred memory size to 80,000 works for Netscape 7.x.
PCR at Home [HTML]: http://www.sciam.com/2000/0700issue/0700amsci.html
This "Amateur Scientist" article describes how PCR can be done at home on a stovetop with simple, readily available materials.
Wonderful World of Insects [HTML]: http://www.earthlife.net/insects/six.html
This is an enyclopedia-like website addressing a large diversity of topics about insects with pages on anatomy, classification and taxonomy, evolution, and much more..

All content on this website (including text, photographs, and any other original work), unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a
Creative Commons License.