Coevolution of Parasitic Arthropods and Mammals

This book brings together information on the diversity, distribution and adaptations of parasitic insects and acarines on mammals and thus provides the basis for studies on the evolution of biological relationships (perhaps coevolutionary) between parasites (consumers) and hosts (suppliers). Primary focus is placed on obligate, permanent parasites. They include anoplura, Mallophaga, Siphonaptera and the minor taxa, Dermaptera, Hemiptera, Diptera and Coleoptera (Insecta), and numerous Mesostigmata, Metastigmata, Prostigmata and Astigmata (Acari). Parasitic insects of minor orders are discussed briefly together. Because the level of knowlege currently available varies greatly by different taxonomic groups, many different approaches must be used to study evolutionary relationships between these parasites and their hosts. Thus the approach used in each chapter differs considerably from others. The term coevolution is used somewhat differently by different authors, but it primarily refers to the concepts of coaccommodation, coadaptation and cospeciation.;This represents a parasitological concept of coevolution, differing from the restrictive definition used for reciprocal evolution of plant-insect interactions.