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The purpose of this book is to provide a comprehensive overview of the interrelationships of insects and wildlife. Surprisingly, this has not been attempted previously. Secondarily, this book is prepared in the form of a textbook, providing an introduction of insects to wildlife biologists and other vertebrate biologists, and emphasizing the importance of insects to wild vertebrate animals. If used for teaching introductory entomology, this book provides the first new approach to teaching insect biology that has been developed in several decades. Anyone who has taught introductory entomology will find some familiar elements in this book; however, there are some entirely unique aspects and the context is completely novel. Consistent with the textbook concept, I have provided a summary at the end of each chapter, highlighted and defined the important entomological and ecological terminology, and provided a glossary of terms. 1. Contents (See also, Table of Contents) Chapter 1. Insects and their relatives. This initial chapter is an overview of insects, and serves as a foundation for understanding what constitutes an insect. For anyone having had an entomology course, this chapter is review material. However, for those lacking prior exposure to this discipline, this chapter is essential reading. This first chapter explains the relationship of insects to similar invertebrates, emphasizing closely related organisms such as spiders, ticks, and centipedes. Evolution and classification of insects are also presented, but the major emphasis is on insect form and function. All the major life systems are briedly described, complete with illustrations. Insects can be quite different than vertebrates, and this section treats their differences and similarities before closing with discussion of insect feeding ecology. Chapter 2. Insects as a food resource for wildlife. This is a large and chapter that, for the first time, brings focus to the role of insects as food for vertebrate animals. All the major groups of vertebrates are discussed. Data gleaned from numerous dietary studies are presented in tabular form so the reader can see the differences in feeding behavior, and the importance of insects in the diet. Information on measuring the diet of wildlife, the nutritional value of insects to vertebrate animals, and the importance of insects to wildlife fitness also are presented. The diverse means by which insects avoid being consumed by wildlife are reviewed. Finally, the taxa (orders and families) that are important food items for wildlife are discussed briefly. Chapter 3. Other important roles of insects in ecosystems. Whereas Chapter 2 discussed the direct influence of insects as an element of wildlife habitat by comprising their food, Chapter 3 discusses the more indirect effects, the role of insects in ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, pollination and herbivory. These critical ecosystem processes affect not only the availabil