Handbook of Medical Entomology

"Handbook of Medical Entomology" by William A. Riley is a book that acts as a detailed guide, combining the authors' teachings about the ties between insects and diseases. It comprehensively explores how different arthropods influence human well-being through poisoning, parasitic behavior, and illness spread, which is useful for both medical and entomological researchers. The book starts by stressing a developing understanding of insects as agents of disease, not just pests, and it highlights historical views on insect-related ailments and the impact of figures such as Mercurialis and Beauperthuy. The writers break down the different ways arthropods can affect health, grouping their roles into poisoning via bites or stings, acting as parasites, and spreading illnesses either as simple carriers or required hosts for pathogens, setting the scene for a deeper look at particular insects and their effects in later chapters.