Authors: Dennis S. Hill & Fatimah Abang (2005)
Publisher: Penerbit Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.
This book presents an introductory overview of the insect fauna of western Borneo; the text is divided into separate Chapters representing the different Orders of insects, with emphasis on species that are common, particularly abundant, important as pests, or of otherwise special interest. But in view of the vast numbers of insects in Borneo and their tremendous diversity this study can only serve as an introduction.
There is considerable faunal uniformity in the South-east Asia region – on the mainland, from South China to Burma and Malaya (India is excluded), and including the islands of Borneo and Indonesia. Many insect species are found throughout the region – in other cases the genus is widespread but occurs as several different species and genera, and in some cases even families that are endemic. The three main centers of insect evolution in the world are equatorial Africa, South-east Asia and parts of South America, where vast numbers of species are present. The insect biodiversity in Borneo is so extensive that in addition to the thousands of species identified here there are undoubtedly many more thousands of undiscovered species new to science waiting to be described and named.
In addition to the Class Insecta there are some common species of spiders, mites, scorpions, centipedes (Classes Arachnida and Myriapoda) included in the book.
This book also includes some basic entomology in order to make the text self-explanatory. It is intended for use as a college text and references, and also for the interested general public. Many of the species are illustrated by either clear line drawings or photographs, more than 500 in total, to help in their recognition.
