昆虫の解剖学、生理学、進化、行動、生殖、生体、疾患、調査、保全と管理に関する300トピックスを収録した事典の6年振りの改訂版。66％以上の新規内容を収録し、1000点以上のフルカラー写真、図版を収録。Awarded Best Reference by the New York Public Library (2004), Outstanding Academic Title by CHOICE (2003), and AAP/PSP 2003 Best Single Volume Reference/Sciences by Association of American Publishers' Professional Scholarly Publishing Division, the first edition was acclaimed as the most comprehensive work devoted to insects.Expanded sections in forensic entomology, biotechnology and Drosphila, reflect the full update of over 300 topics. Articles provide definitive facts regarding all insects from ants, beetles, and butterflies to yellow jackets, zoraptera, and zygentoma.