Guide to Venomous and Medically Important Invertebrates

About this book

Though many are harmless and even beneficial, invertebrates are some of the world's most feared and dangerous creatures.

Guide to Venomous and Medically Important Invertebrates describes the health threats posed by invertebrate groups worldwide, from physical pain and annoyance to disease transmission risk. Featuring clear photographs, distribution maps and descriptions of biological, physical and behavioural characteristics of key groups, this book aids identification of potentially harmful invertebrates. It also summarises personal protection measures to reduce the risk of attack and disease, and provides guidance on treatment.

This book will help to protect the health of travellers and serve as a reference for medical personnel working in high-risk areas, as well as those interested in entomology.

Contents

Preface
About the authors
Acknowledgements

Dangerous invertebrates
Invertebrate threats
Personal protection measures
Sponges
Coelenterates
Bryozoans
Echinoderms
Segmented worms
Molluscs
Spiders
Scorpions
Mites and chiggers
Ticks
Centipedes and millipedes
Crustacea
Lice
Cockroaches
True bugs
Ants, bees, wasps and hornets
Moths
Beetles
Flies
Fleas

Selected references
Web-based sources of hazardous invertebrate references and information
Glossary
Appendices
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Doctors David Bowles, James Swaby and Harold Harlan are retired United States military medical entomologists. They have more than 90 years' collective experience working with and publishing on venomous and medically important invertebrates from around the world.