R. F. Chapman (1930-2003) was an eminent insect physiologist and Professor in the Division of Neurobiology at the University of Arizona. His first four editions of The Insects have formed the standard text in the field for more than forty years.

List of contributors; Preface; Acknowledgments; Prologue George C. McGavin; Part I. The Head, Ingestion, Utilization and Distribution of Food: 1. Head Stephen J. Simpson; 2. Mouthparts and feeding Stephen J. Simpson; 3. Alimentary canal, digestion and absorption Angela E. Douglas; 4. Nutrition Angela E. Douglas and Stephen J. Simpson; 5. Circulatory system, blood and the immune system Angela E. Douglas and Michael T. Siva-Jothy; 6. Fat body Deborah K. Hoshizaki, Allen G. Gibbs and Nichole D. Bond; Part II. The Thorax and Locomotion: 7. Thorax Graham K. Taylor; 8. Legs and locomotion Graham K. Taylor; 9. Wings and flight Graham K. Taylor; 10. Muscles John C. Sparrow; Part III. The Abdomen, Reproduction and Development: 11. Abdomen Leigh W. Simmons; 12. Reproductive system: male Leigh W. Simmons; 13. Reproductive system: female Leigh W. Simmons; 14. The egg and embryology Michael R. Strand; 15. Postembryonic development Stuart Reynolds; Part IV. The Integument, Gas Exchange and Homeostasis: 16. Integument Hans Merzendorfer; 17. Gaseous exchange Jon F. Harrison and Lutz Thilo Wasserthal; 18. Excretion and salt and water regulation Julian Dow; 19. Thermal relations John S. Terblanche; Part V. Communication; Section 1. Physiological Co-ordination within the Insect: 20. Nervous system Stephen Rogers; 21. Endocrine system Stuart Reynolds; Section 2. Perception of the Environment: 22. Vision Michael F. Land and Lars Chittka; 23. Mechanoreception Tom Matheson; 24. Chemoreception Bronwen Cribb and David Merritt; Section 3. Communication with Other Organisms: 25. Visual signals: colour and light production Peter Vukusic and Lars Chittka; 26. Mechanical communication: producing sound and substrate vibrations Ralf Heinrich; 27. Chemical communication: pheromones and chemicals with interspecific significance Jeremy McNeil and Jocelyn G. Millar; Index.