This book chronicles the complete evolutionary history of arthropods and most importantly of insects; their diversity, relationships, process of fossilization and fossils in particular. The book also contains chapters on Relationship between Taxonomy and Systematics, Modern Classification, Concept of species and Entomological database, to name a few. Numerical Taxonomy and Kinds of taxonomic keys beautifully illustrated with figures and diagrams to help in identification of important insects are also incorporated. The book will appeal to any one engaged in Insect Taxonomy, professional entomologists, insect collectors and curators.  

Taxonomy is a subject which is so operational that it could not be learned theoretically. Therefore, the present book will serve as a guide for those who are learning the subject and also for taxonomists, teachers, students pursuing higher education and aspiring for a career in entomology.

The present reference book would be very useful for under- graduate and post-graduate students and for those who are willing to succeed in various competitive exams. It will also provide a thorough knowledge of bio-systematics for classifying insects.

Prof. Neerja Agrawal graduated in bio stream and obtained M.Sc. Zoology degree with specialization in Entomology, holding meritorious position in University of Allahabad. She won State Fellowship to pursue her Ph. D. in Entomology from Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSAU), Kanpur, under the guidance of Professor Entomology & Dean Agriculture Dr. K.D. Upadhyay. She completed International Course on ‘Applied Taxonomy of insects and mites of agricultural importance’ at CAB International Institute of Entomology, London in 1986 through CFTC Fellowship (U.K.).

Having started her research and teaching career in 1987 as Junior Scientist/ Assistant Professor in Deptt. of Entomology, C.S.A.U.A.&T., Kanpur, she retired as Dean and Professor & Head in 2018. After retirement she was selected by ICAR to join as Emeritus Professor at CSAU, Kanpur. She has been teaching Insect morphology, advanced insect systematics and insect ecology and guided 22 M.Sc. (Ag), 10 Ph.D. researchers and 1 Post- Doctoral Fellow. She led three National Projects as PI and two projects as Co-PI., sponsored by Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India and ICAR, respectively. She presented Country Report in the ‘First Int. Symposium on Fruit flies in the Tropics’ held in Malaysia (1988). Later, she delivered Research Papers in many National/International Conferences including Malaysia (1990), Japan (1993), Indonesia (2018) and France (2019). She has contributed more than 80 research papers in the Journals of National and International repute, 5 books, 4 practical manuals and 10 book chapters, besides being actively engaged in print/ electronic media and website tutorials for University students. Her website www.profneerja@wordpress.com caters instructional material for different PG courses in Entomology.

Prof. Neerja had addressed Women’s Science Congress in the 100th Indian Science Congress (ISC), Kolkata in 2013, as Guest Speaker from academic sector and was elected Recorder in the Agriculture and Forestry Sciences for the years 2017 and 2018 at ISC. She is Fellow Entomological Society of India, member editorial board and life member of many scientific societies. She is recipient of Smt. Rewati Singh Memorial Award- 2018 for outstanding contribution in the field of Science and Agriculture by Society for Recent Development in Agriculture; Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Education Excellence Award -2019 by Indian Solidarity Council and Lifetime Achievement Award-2019 in Entomology by Agriculture & Environmental Technology Development Society.

Chapter 1. Origin of Arthropods
Chapter 2. Systematics and Taxonomy:Relationship between Systematics and Taxonomy
Chapter 3. Relationship of Insects with Phylum Annelida and other Classes of Arthropoda 
Chapter 4. Origin of Insects:Dominance of Insects in Animal Kingdome
Chapter 5. Zoological Nomenclature: Principles and Application of Zoological Nomenclature, International Code of Nomenclature, Law of Priority
Chapter 6. Zoological Classification
Chapter 7. Modern Classification of Insects: Insects of Agricultural importance, Characters of Orders and Family
Chapter 8. History of Insect Systematics:Insect phylogeny, Evolution, Zoogeographical regions
Chapter 9. Importance of Taxonomy and Levels of Systematics
Chapter 10.Numerical Taxonomy:Phenetics, Cladistics, Dendograms 
Chapter 11.Concept of Species: Subspecies, Kinds of Species,Taxonomic Categories
Chapter 12.Concept of Supraspecific and Infraspecific categories: Biotypes
Chapter 13.Procedure in Identification: Taxonomic Characters;  Morphological, Physiological, Biochemical, Cytological, Parasitological, Geographical
Chapter 14.Kinds of Taxonomic Keys
Chapter 15.Ethics in Taxonomy
Chapter 16.Hierarchy in Classification
Chapter 17.Palaeontology, Fossil Insects
Chapter 18.Taxonomic Publication:   Description of New Texa
Chapter 19.Hybridization and Speciation
Chapter 20.Taxonomic Collections, Curation and Preservation