Book Description

An introduction to the world of edible insects, complete with recipes and color photographs. * Includes an historical look at the use of edible insects in * indigenous cultures. * Provides information on where to obtain insects and how to store and * prepare them.Includes over 60 gourmet recipes, complete with * stunning color photographs.

The most wholesome source of protein on earth cannot be found in any supermarket in the United States, but it can be found right in your backyard! Insects have been a staple of almost every indigenous culture, not only because of their delicious flavor but also because they provide a more complete protein than soy, meat, or fish, and are concentrated sources of calcium, niacin, magnesium, potassium, the B-vitamins, and

many other nutrients. As the world heads for food shortages in the next century insects can help meet humanity's growing nutritional needs.

Creepy Crawly Cuisine tells you everything you need to know to make insects a part of your diet. It includes an overview of the use of edible insects by indigenous cultures, information on where to obtain insects and how to store and prepare them, and over 60 gourmet recipes, complete with stunning color photographs, that let you take the cooking of insects to dazzling culinary heights. As practical as it is unique, Creepy Crawly Cuisine is the ideal gift for followers of the Diet for a Small Planet, adventurous epicures, and cooks who think they have seen it all. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

entomophagy ROCKS!
okay so i've never eaten a bug- but i love reading about the subject! My best friend gave me this book for my sucky birthday! lol- and it totally rocks...

Julieta gives great nutritional advice on different bugs and descries each bugs particular flavor in reference to things common that we know of.... it is well written and very informative from calories to essential amino acids to proteins and vitamins... the book covers different countries in it's concise and informative beginning. I also liked the fact that the author gives you the actual family and genus name of the species.

the photos however are why i gave the book 4 stars.... most of the photos i feel as if i had already seen in "man eating bugs" because the same photographer helped publish both books... i never really tried the recipes of course.. but julieta does give helpful resources and advice on breeding your own bugs for food!

Loved it read it several times.... get it for your collection!

It transform's you in to a bug eater! for life.
This is the best book i have read about edible insects, i find it rare but exciting, after you read this book you will go to your garden and gather some insects.

Great Recipes, But Kind of Improbable
This book contains some great recipes with a south-of-theborder-flavour, but all the same, you may find some of these bugs a tad bit exotic . . . where in the world can you get a half-pound of tree-hoppers anyway? So this might be a bit much for the novice without special resources, but on the whole is well worth the money.

Excellent entomophagy reference and cookbook
The author of this book is probably the world's foremost authority on entomophagy. I consider this book the best entomophagy book in print. The book is thorough in its coverage of the value of insects as human food. The author is a superb cook and the recipes are delicious and very artfully prepared and photographed.

Great book with great recipes!
One of the most enjoyable additions to our culinary bookshelf! This book is filled with great pictures and even better recipes. Even though we haven't been able to try them all, we've loved the ones we've tried. Do yourself a favor and try this one out! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One Amazing Book about Bees
This is a special scientific book, for the author tells the reader not only WHAT we know about the inner workings of honey bee colonies, but also HOW we know it. Through simple but graceful writing, accompanied by many diagrams, Seeley takes you on a step-by-step journey through his experimental analysis of how the members of a bee colony work together to gather the nectar, pollen, and water that they need. I think anyone interested in seeing how a human has dissected the complex internal organization of a bee hive will find this a rewarding read. I especially liked chapter 6, where Seeley explains that the bees have several kinds of communication dances, not just the famous waggle dance, to activate more bees for making honey. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Wry, Charming Book
This is more than a "how-to," beginner's guide to beekeeping: it is a homage to a remarkable creature. The author's comprehensive knowledge and admiration for the fuzzy little guys is evident on every page. His advice is practical and free of mushy sentiment. A lovely book.

Beekeeping A Practical Guide
Mr. Bonney's Book was an easy read. I read it in 3 evenings. The 'Practical Guide' is just that - a 'Road Map'. I appreciated Mr. Bonney's opinions and lack of wishy-washy caveats. I did not find the short-falls another reviewer found.

I appreciate the Tables that present the Data and capsulize that Data or Information. For example, I finished the Book, went on line, Yahooed 'Beekeeping', found some vendors and successfully prepared a 'general' or 'ballpark' budget based on recommended hive dimensions, clothing and so on - in less than 30 minutes!

My demeanor is such that I prefer to make my own decisions and Mr. Bonney clearly stated when he held a view where others differed. This is not a 'my way or the highway' Book.

Good starter book, but lacking detail.
A very good starter book, but still needs more precise detail. For example, warns of swarms and to watch for, but does not say "what" to watch for. Assumes reader knows something about bees and their habits. I do not. Am a beginner from the word go, and need more information than this books holds. However, a good addition to the home collection.

Excellent for presenting the realities of beekeeping.
"Beekeeping - a practical guide" is is exactly what it says it is. It presents the facts of beekeeping in a way that fascinate you with the wonders of the hobby and mixes in the pitfalls that would, stated alone, send you away disappointed if you are are a beginner like me. By the time you finish reading the book and have weighed all of the information, the truly interested reader will be looking for another book to expand on all of the points Richard Bonney presents and also planning thier first colony. Good Luck. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Gosh some of those dragonflies look like Apache helicopters!
Two things that the other reviewers might not have covered:
1. It only contains dragonflies from North America.
*sarcasm on*
This is truuuly indispensable to someone living in Australia.
*sarcasm off*
2. The size. It is a lot smaller than I expected at only 4.5 x 7".
3. If you're more interested in general dragonfly facts, get the other book "Dragonflies of the world" instead, for it contains fascinating information on dragonfly flight behaviour, larval stages, camoflage, temperature regulation, etc.

It is what it says it is. Good value!
This book will not make you an expert on dragonflies. It does give you sufficient information on them to help understand what you see when you view them in the field. And it helps you identify the most common ones in the USA and Canada.

A few pages in the front of the book give brief background information on dragonflies, and on equipment and strategies for observing them in the field. Then you go to page after page of species descriptions. Important identification information is given for each species, and at least one (sometimes more when appropriate) photo. The photos are usually of good quality both as photos and as identification aids.

A key in the inside cover of the book helps you pick out characteristics of a dragonfly you are observing, and the key then points you to the appropriate pages in the book using a color tab system.

I compared copies in hand of this book, and its chief competitor, DRAGONFLIES THROUGH BINOCULARS. I felt this book would be more useful in the field, so I ordered this one from Amazon.com, not the binoculars book. That's the best testimony I can give. I've since read and begun to use the book, and I am happy with my choice.

Only downside to this book is that it may tempt you to order one of the larger, more in-depth books on dragonflies, which are quite expensive!

Perfect for the newbie
Clear and beautiful photos with helpful information make it easy to ID dragonflies. If you want to use it as field guide or as picture book this is the one to have.

What is that funny looking bug?
Maybe I first noticed Dragonflies one of those summers I attended Girl Scout camp and I saw a pretty blue-winged insect shimmering over the lake where we went for our daily swim. Or maybe I saw my first fly when I sat on a creek bank waiting for the catfish to bite. I saw them so often when I was a child growing up in the rural South and Midwest, that I took them for granted. Not until the great Henry Mitchell, a local gardener and columnist with the Washington Post (and author of many books on gardening) wrote about his horse troughs and Dragonfiles did I sit up and say, "You mean there's more than one kind??"

Mr. Mitchell taught me that Dragonfiles can drown in deep water if they try to take a drink, and that Dragonflies, Damselflies and Butterflies all need shallow water. That's why you see them hovering over mud puddles and why every bird bath needs a shallow spot. In Mr. Mitchell's garden, the Dragonflies drank from the leaves on his water lillies. If you plant water lillies, you will see a Dragonfly or two or three.

The BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO DRAGONFLIES is destined to help me help my granddaughters develop an appreciation of Dragonfiles and Damselflies. According to authors Nikula, Sones, and Stokes, the major differences between the two are wing shapes, wing positions, eye positions, overall appearance and flight style. Some of the photos even depict Dragonflies that might be confused with Butterflies. We are going to learn about: 'Cruisers', 'Spiketails', 'Clubtails', 'Petaltails'
and a whole lot more. Seems that pretty neon blue insect I've seen hovering over the pond may be a 'Pond Damsel.'

Each of the illustrated "Identification" pages in DRAGONFLIES contains a photograph and text description of the fly and a map of Northern America depicting the range of the insect in question. Each map shows the entire country plus Canada. The pages of the book are color coded by family type so you can link the Dragonfly or Damselfly to it's family. Get this book and enjoy the summer fun.

A great guide
This handy little book should prove very useful to dragonfly and damselfly watchers. The pictures are large and show more detail than some of the larger, more extensive dragonfly guides. Though not as many species are covered as in, Dragonflies Through Binoculars, this guide is better in several ways. To begin with, it does make identification easier because the pictures are better. It is also lighter and easier to carry in the field. Finally, damselflies are covered in this book in addition to dragonflies. With all these added bonuses, I would recommend this book to long time dragonfly/damselfly watchers and beginners alike. ... Read more

Book Description

In conversation with the Bible and Sue Monk Kidd's best-selling novel The Secret Life of Bees (Penguin Books, 2003), Unveiling the Secret Life of Bees explores theembodiments of women, feminine power, relationships, and the importance of women in the life of the church. It looks at the roles of women in the Bible and how those roles are defined or redefined in The Secret Life of Bees, expanding our concepts of the "Divine mother," earthly mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and the "queen bee." Along the way, we encounter remembrance, forgiveness, reconciliation, liberation, community, rituals, the feminine face of God, and the important role women play in one another's lives. ... Read more

Book Description

This lavishly illustrated guide will enable you to identify the caterpillars of nearly 700 butterflies and moths found east of the Mississippi. The more than 1,200 color photographs and two dozen line drawings include numerous exceptionally striking images. The giant silk moths, tiger moths, and many other species covered include forest pests, common garden guests, economically important species, and of course, the Mescal Worm and Mexican Jumping Bean caterpillars. Full-page species accounts cover almost 400 species, with up to six images per species including an image of the adult plus succinct text with information on distribution, seasonal activity, foodplants, and life history. These accounts are generously complemented with additional images of earlier instars, closely related species, noteworthy behaviors, and other intriguing aspects of caterpillar biology.

Many caterpillars are illustrated here for the first time. Dozens of new foodplant records are presented and erroneous records are corrected. The book provides considerable information on the distribution, biology, and taxonomy of caterpillars beyond that available in other popular works on Eastern butterflies and moths. The introductory chapter covers caterpillar structure, life cycles, rearing, natural enemies, photography, and conservation. The section titled "Caterpillar Projects" will be of special interest to educators.

Given the dearth of accessible guides on the identification and natural history of caterpillars, Caterpillars of Eastern North America is a must for entomologists and museum curators, forest managers, conservation biologists and others who seek a compact, easy-to-use guide to the caterpillars of this vast region.

• A compact guide to nearly 700 caterpillars east of the Mississippi, from forest pests to garden guests and economically important species
• 1,200 color photos and 24 line drawings enable easy identification
• Full-page species accounts with image of adult insect for almost 400 species, plus succinct text on distribution and other vital information
• Many caterpillars illustrated here for the first time
• Current information on distribution, biology, and taxonomy not found in other popular works
• A section geared toward educators, "Caterpillar Projects"
• An indispensable resource for all who seek an easy-to-use guide to the caterpillars of this vast region

Book Description

Imagine beetles ejecting defensive sprays as hot as boiling water; female moths holding their mates for ransom; caterpillars disguising themselves as flowers by fastening petals to their bodies; termites emitting a viscous glue to rally fellow soldiers--and you will have entered an insect world once beyond imagining, a world observed and described down to its tiniest astonishing detail by Thomas Eisner. The story of a lifetime of such minute explorations, For Love of Insects celebrates the small creatures that have emerged triumphant on the planet, the beneficiaries of extraordinary evolutionary inventiveness and unparalleled reproductive capacity.

To understand the success of insects is to appreciate our own shortcomings, Eisner tells us, but never has a reckoning been such a pleasure. Recounting exploits and discoveries in his lab at Cornell and in the field in Uruguay, Australia, Panama, Europe, and North America, Eisner time and again demonstrates how inquiry into the survival strategies of an insect leads to clarifications beyond the expected; insects are revealed as masters of achievement, forms of life worthy of study and respect from even the most recalcitrant entomophobe. Filled with descriptions of his ingenious experiments and illustrated with photographs unmatched for their combination of scientific content and delicate beauty, Eisner's book makes readers participants in the grand adventure of discovery on a scale infinitesimally small, and infinitely surprising.

Reviews (8)

The Reviews
For Love of Insects

Thomas Eisner
Foreword by Edward O. Wilson

Although insects are not usually the stars of popular-science writing, this engaging look at how one scientist studies their lives may add them to the most-requested lists of science- and animal-loving readers.
--Nancy Bent, Booklist

For Love of Insects is especially valuable because it explains the steps missing from the research reports in Nature and Science: [Eisner] tells the story from first noticing a bug on a walk in the woods, through experiments and analytical chemistry, to a final understanding of each phenomenon...For Love of Insects is a fascinating introduction to a world we poor humans--barely able to detect most chemicals--seldom notice.
--Jonathan Beard, New Scientist [UK]

[Eisner's] new book is a personal memoir of a lifetime in science, engagingly written and stunningly illustrated with photographs of insects doing astonishing things...What makes Eisner a world-class entomologist is not access to million-dollar scientific instruments, but a mind that never stops asking 'Why?'
--Chet Raymo, Boston Globe

This is one of the best nature titles in the last several years.
--Kim Long, Bloomsbury Review

[P]repare to be amazed. Brimming with enthusiasm, Eisner reveals a world of unbelievable majesty and complexity in the simplest of insects. The photographs alone are worth the price of the book, but the text crackles with the electricity of a brilliant genius at work, as Eisner leads the reader from simple observation to major scientific breakthrough. In fact this book should be required reading for every biology student because it illuminates the basic principle that passion and curiosity are the twin pillars of all great science.
--David Lukas, Los Angeles Times

The world has eagerly awaited these enchanting tales of insect life, brimming with discovery, insight, and wry humor. They're a master entomologist's masterwork. The photographs are also extraordinary, both illuminating and exquisitely beautiful.
--Diane Ackerman, Cornell University

I don't know whether I like the text or the photographs of For Love of Insects better. The former is brilliant, the product of the dean of chemical ecology and a world-renowned expert on insects. The latter are spectacular, the work of an outstanding photographer -- once again Tom Eisner. No naturalist or natural scientist will want to be without this book. Indeed, if everyone would take the time to read it and look at the amazing pictures our society would benefit greatly from an enhanced appreciation of the insect world.
--Paul Ehrlich, President, Center for Conservation Biology, Stanford University

Love of insects? Hell, that's barely the half of it! Better Tom Eisner had called this book Love of Life and the Lively of progeny and all provenance! With boundless verve and grace and marvel and delight, Tom Eisner proves himself, across these dazzling pages, to be one of the all-time great biophiliacs. Ah, the blessing, for the rest of us, to be alive alongside him!
--Lawrence Weschler, Director of the New York Institute for the Humanities and author of Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder

There are few books which present the fullness of a life in science as powerfully, as modestly, and as enchantingly as this one. The excitement of Tom Eisner's fundamental investigations are mingled with vivid descriptions of his many other loves and enthusiasms--for music and literature no less than for the natural world--in seamless and beautiful prose. For Love of Insects is not only a delight to read, but, with its amazing photographs, a visual feast, too.
--Oliver Sachs, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

Publishers comments
Publisher Comments:
Imagine beetles ejecting defensive sprays as hot as boiling water; female moths holding their mates for ransom; caterpillars disguising themselves as flowers by fastening petals to their bodies; termites emitting a viscous glue to rally fellow soldiers--and you will have entered an insect world once beyond imagining, a world observed and described down to its tiniest astonishing detail by Thomas Eisner. The story of a lifetime of such minute explorations, For Love of Insects celebrates the small creatures that have emerged triumphant on the planet, the beneficiaries of extraordinary evolutionary inventiveness and unparalleled reproductive capacity. To understand the success of insects is to appreciate our own shortcomings, Eisner tells us, but never has a reckoning been such a pleasure. Recounting exploits and discoveries in his lab at Cornell and in the field in Uruguay, Australia, Panama, Europe, and North America, Eisner time and again demonstrates how inquiry into the survival strategies of an insect leads to clarifications beyond the expected; insects are revealed as masters of achievement, forms of life worthy of study and respect from even the most recalcitrant entomophobe. Filled with descriptions of his ingenious experiments and illustrated with photographs unmatched for their combination of scientific content and delicate beauty. Eisner's book makes readers participants in the grand adventure of discovery on a scale infinitesimally small, and infinitely surprising.

For Love of Eisner
For those people lucky enough to meet Dr. Eisner, they will know that he is a very intelligent, very humble man. Dr. Eisner has devoted his life to studying insects, and his passion comes across in his words and his photographs. It is difficult to get this man to speak about his accomplishments, and this book gives the reader a wonderful opportunity to get to know one of the greatest biologists of this century, and learn why he has earned that title.

The photographs are exquisite and they alone are worth buying the book. The stories are fascinating tales that seem like they should be science fiction, yet they are science fact. An enlightening book for those that fear "creepy crawlies" as to why these creatures deserve respect, even if they are still worth fearing.

You can be the fly on the wall watching the fly.
Imagine beetles ejecting defensive sprays as hot as boiling water; female moths holding their mates for ransom; caterpillars disguising themselves as flowers by fastening petals to their bodies; termites emitting a viscous glue to rally fellow soldiers--and you will have entered an insect world once beyond imagining, a world observed and described down to its tiniest astonishing detail by Thomas Eisner. The story of a lifetime of such minute explorations, For Love of Insects celebrates the small creatures that have emerged triumphant on the planet, the beneficiaries of extraordinary evolutionary inventiveness and unparalleled reproductive capacity.

To understand the success of insects is to appreciate our own shortcomings, Eisner tells us, but never has a reckoning been such a pleasure. Recounting exploits and discoveries in his lab at Cornell and in the field in Uruguay, Australia, Panama, Europe, and North America, Eisner time and again demonstrates how inquiry into the survival strategies of an insect leads to clarifications beyond the expected; insects are revealed as masters of achievement, forms of life worthy of study and respect from even the most recalcitrant entomophobe. Filled with descriptions of his ingenious experiments and illustrated with photographs unmatched for their combination of scientific content and delicate beauty, Eisner's book makes readers participants in the grand adventure of discovery on a scale infinitesimally small, and infinitely surprising.

NOT ALL WORDS. PICTURES TOO !!!!!!!

Not just about insects
The book has a superb and greatly readable text, as well as beautiful photos by the author. And, it's not just about insects. The tale told celebrates not only the wonderful mysteries of insects, but exemplifies a life of play and passion, and should be subtitled "Wonder is All." Or, perhaps, "Do what you love, the best will follow." The book is destined to be a classic, not only on insects but on life well- lived. ... Read more

Book Description

"The real masterwork that Sue Hubbell has created is her life," David Quammen wrote in the New York Times. This book is, like its author, a unique achievement. Weaving a vivid portrait of her own life and her bees' lives through the seasons, Hubbell writes "about bees to be sure, but also about other things: the important difference between loneliness and solitude . . . the accommodating of oneself to nature" (Philadelphia Inquirer). ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great nature writing and commentary on contemporary life
As an avid reader and enthusiast of the "nature writing" genre', I became an immediate fan of Sue Hubbell's after reading this book. Like the other commentator here, I've bought several copies only to end up giving my current one away again. Hubbell has a genuinely unique insight into nature that is fresh and original while her writing is well crafted. Being a beekeeper of over ten years, I was attracted to the book for that reason but came away with much more. Hubbell's musings on life in general and her backwoods alternative to the modern drum on the digital age is a good escape. An insightful read for anyone interested in a deeper perspective on one aspect of rural life. Enjoy.

A book about how to live fully, with expert bee info. extra!
I first read this book several years ago and bought and gave away three copies. I'm so glad it has been republished. Sue Hubbell recounts a year in her life as a beekeeper, with musings on nature, and with a loving portrait of her honeybees. Bees are wondrous and if you don't think so, Hubbell will help you see the light. I have finally succumbed to the urge to keep bees myself, and now I value the book for it's information and wisdom on beekeeping. One thing, though. The insect pictured on the cover...is not a honeybee! I bet she was not pleased! This is a peaceful read, a good summer book, and a keeper.

Bee Knees
Back in early April, I mentioned one of Sue Hubbell's other books, A Country Year: Living the Questions on my blog, where she writes about her time living in the Ozarks and raising bees as a profession.

While A Country Year was meant as entertaining reading, this book is Hubbell giving you clean and excellent information on the keeping of bees, along with some of the poetic language from A Country Year. Just like that book, I will finish this book in a day or two, as it pulls me through the various seasons of the beekeeper. Winter is prep time. Spring brings hard work and maintenance. Fall is harvest and preparing the hives for Winter.

I get fixated on ideas somehow, and Hubbell's books are feeding my current fixation on bees. My neighbors hive, clearly visible from my back yard, has grown more interesting. It gives me a life model to explore my newly gained knowledge without completely suiting up in bee gear. It is heartening to know that the flowers and trees in my garden benefit from these bees, as much as the bees benefit from them.

The days in the life of a year of bee keeping
Buffalo Sue says this book is delightful. I'd like to find a different word to be original but I can't.
It is delightful in the way Sue Hubbell somehow manages to be both down to earth as somebody making a living with bees must yet is also as bright eyed as a kid experiencing something wonderfully new every day which is in fact what you get with bees.
If you are into bees buy it.
If you are not into bees but enjoy the idea that even today there is a satisfying way to live that does not require destruction of the environment or the death or discomfort of your charges you would enjoy it.

Beautiful!
Unique, well-written -- poignant, humorous -- subtle, yet compelling. Hubble's comic timing and keen storytelling are second to none. This is one of the most wonderful gifts I've ever received. Read it! Give it to every person you know. It's unique and so very lovely. I am grateful to the person who recommended this gem. A Book of Bees is a wonderful revelation. Ostensibly about bee-keeping, but really about life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Source of Insect Facts
This book is the best source of insect trivia that I have ever seen! I have used it as a source for questions for the Entomological Society of America Linnaean Games for several years, while I served on one of the ESA branch Linnaean Games committees. It is simply great!

May Berenbaum has a very informal and humorous style that appeals to both the public and students. If, after reading her book, you still think insects are icky or uninteresting you are certainly made of stone. The number of little known facts in this book is simply huge. If you use just one book for reference on insects, Dr. Berenbaum's book would be a very good candidate. She treats everything from the invasion of the cotton boll weevil and the mysterious extinction of the Rocky Mountain locust to insects in movies and as human food.

If you do not like insects or are afraid of them, you really should read this book. It will go a long way toward desensitizing you and make you fascinated with insects instead.

I recommend this book highly to everybody from elementary school to retirement.

I Didn't Know That
So you've been asked to make a presentation on pest control to your local school,Elk Lodge , or Chamber of Commerce. You want to make a good knowledgeable presentation but where can you go to get good yet digestible information with a bit of humor? I recommend "Bugs In The System" from Perseus Publishing by May R. Berenbaum. This book time and time again has proved an invaluable resource for many projects. May Berenbaum is head of the Entomology Department at the University of Illinois so the scientific aspects are quite sound. What makes this book unique is the portrayal of various insects and their march through time along with us. Classification or "A Rose-chaffer by any other name...." is the first chapter which is then followed by sex , bugs and rock and roll. Each chapter is scientifically accurate but is written with the intelligent general populace in mind. The book is further enlivened with insect quotes , such as "More courtship lives in carrion flies than Romeo" William Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet and interesting as well as humorous photos. As the book progresses the chapters on Parasites and Hosts as well as History of Pest Control offer a real sense of purpose and perspective to our mission in the management of those insects which society has deemed pests. On insects such as mosquitoes a wonderful historical perspective is given on these vectors effect on history and disease. On the other hand we are reminded of the majesty and importance of insects throughout the book especially in the final chapters , Appreciating Insects and Equal Time. Upon concluding the book one truly gains some insight into the various systems that make up our environment as well as the evolution of knowledge in the field of Entomology and Pest Control. The book is excellently laid out in terms of progression from biology to human interaction to pest potential finally concluding with a sound and ecologically balanced view. Each chapter carries plenty of references and the appendix is an excellent key to insect orders. As a resource as well as a requirement I heartily recommend this book.

Fantastic bug book w/ bit of humor
This book was so good! It provided me with everything I wanted to know about the insect world. It also included some humor (i.e. Reproduction chaper intitled "Sex, Bugs, and Rock & Roll). I recommend this to everyone who wants to know about how precious insects are to our life. ... Read more

Book Description

The Insects takes a detailed look at how insects function as animals. This textbook brings together basic anatomy and physiology and relates them to behavior. Coverage emphasizes the roles of different functional systems in the context of the whole organism using studies of many different species as examples. Unlike other texts, The Insects does not dwell on classification, opting instead to take an in-depth look at physiology, providing any biologist with a better basic understanding of how insects work. A long-awaited update of a well established standard text and respected reference work for students and researchers in zoology, entomology and physiology, this fourth edition has been rewritten throughout, while retaining the successful structure of the earlier editions. Illustrations have been augmented with electron micrographs, and expanded reference sections will make this volume a valuable addition to all biologists' bookshelves. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A solid text
This is a solid text on the structure and physiology of insects. It has been used in two of my graduate level entomology classes, and none of the instructors have said "I wish Chapman had done ... differently".

Good text for advanced students
Chapman's book is a comprehensive and well-written entomology text. Not only does he cover all the basic topics in entomology, he does so in depth. This text may be too detailed and overwhelming for begining entomology students but is great for more advanced students. The one problem I have with this book is that Chapman often uses jargon without defining or explaining it, leaving the reader to look it up or remain confused.

Illinois Physiology Class Recommends Chapman's Text
The following comments were written by graduate and undergraduate members of an advanced class in insect physiology taught Spring Semester 2000.

Chapman's book is interesting and covers a variety of topics. It is interesting for learning about how much insects differ between orders. Chapman gives many examples of different phenomena in insects. As a student, though, all the examples and different phenomena make studying from the book difficult and overwhelming. It is useful as a reference, a book to read to clarify topics discussed in lecture. But it is very specific with the examples.

Chapman's textbook is comprehensive. It covers all aspects of insect physiology. It has full and updated literature citations for each chapter, which is very helpful for further reading. The language is simple and precise. But it is a little bit conservative and has slight coverage of some hot topics. The coverage favors insect structure and morphology.

For me as a student the Chapman text was very helpful, because it is clearly structured and it covers nearly all important fields of insect physiology and structure. The new edition is very up-to-date and gives good examples from recent investigations. It is a bit too focused on research conducted in the US, but this probably reflects the fact that most of the important research is conducted there. The illustrations are very clear and helpful.

I used this textbook in an advanced insect physiology class. To be perfectly honest, this book was a minor part of the class for me. I skimmed through it, used it for references, and as a sort of entomology handbook. From my perspective, it was a very complete source of information. At times it was a bit heavy on detail, but the information I needed was all there and clearly stated.

This book is not one that is useful to read from front to back. It is an excellent reference book that should be owned by all entomologists. Three or more specific examples are given for each topic instead of a generic example for all insects. This is useful because it gives you the range of known physiology of insects that can be compared to the reader's "insect of choice."

Chapman gives all the details an entomologist needs to know about insects. It may be a bit confusing due to the vast number of insects, but it is a good resource to own and keep. Chapman is very thorough.

One of the strengths of Chapman's new edition of Insects, Structure and Function is the wealth of examples. Every section of the book has examples from just about all of the orders of insects, although grasshoppers seem to rule disproportionately. A weakness with all of these wonderful examples is the cumbersome way Chapman places a list of them at the beginning of a section. He intends them to be as authoritative fleet of representatives who give some scale and scope to the subject being presented. They unfortunately end up as a heavy flotilla that diverts the reader's attention from the information sought. There are places in the book where subjects that are usually treated together or that work as a whole system are poorly integrated. Digestion and nutrition are so separately treated (they are in different chapters) that the reader finds herself having to cross reference from section to section to make cogent sense of what nutrients have to do with digestion. Strangely, when Chapman presents the great variety of insect form and function one has a sense of cacophony. Instead of giving us a unity, or even the illusion of unity, of how form and function interact we are presented with vignettes of research. But these vignettes do not provide us with the pretty and easy to get to views that we find on the Internet. We find ourselves lost somewhere in a tome that is more intent on directing our attention to variation than to presenting us with direct descriptions. But then again, how do you argue with the only author in English who has been brave enough to try to make a synthetic analysis of the most diverse group of animals on earth?

AN ESSENTIAL BOOK !!!!!!!!!
If you have Wiggleswort's Insect Physilology, Borror's Introduction to Entonology and Chapman's Insects Structure and Function, you have the best basic Entomology sources. Yes, is a little expensive but, It is not the life expensive too?. Buy it !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

The parasitic Hymenoptera are a highly successful and importantgroup of insects comprising probably over a million species. Despitethe vast amount of research that has been carried out on the groupover the last 100 years or so, there are still many unexplainedaspects of their biology. In recent years interest in the parasiticHymenoptera has grown as a result of the increasing demand forbiological methods for pest control and their possible use as naturalenemies. Parasitic wasps are also tremendously important in researchon pollution dynamics and on host-parasite interactions. In this unique volume Donald Quicke provides an up-to-date review ofthe biology of parasitic wasps which focuses primarily on genetics,developmental biology, physiology, anatomy and molecular biology,though many aspects of behaviour and ecology are also covered.Attention is drawn to the importance of both life history strategy anphylogeny to many features of parasitic wasp biology, and exciting newareas of research are highlighted. Parasitic Wasps provides anextensive guide to the relevant literature. The book will prove invaluable to researchers working on this groupand to those with broader interests in entomology, physiology,behaviour, ecology and pest control. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

a beautiful coffee table book
This book has great photography and discription of various insects, however. this is a large book so you can't take it outdoors to try to identify a certain insect. It is a very good reference book

FABulous book
Wonderful photos and quite interesting text...and here I thought this was going to be a hokey little book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Don't bother!
As a critic once said of humorist/musician Tom Lehrer, "...plays piano acceptably." So Mr. Longgood, who teaches writing, writes acceptably, at least stylistically. And he does betray some knowledge of bees and beekeeping, although his unreasoned anthropomorphising of them quite gets in the way of any real understanding, either on his part or that of his readers.

Anyone who would like to understand bees, from either a practical or spiritual standpoint would do far better to read Dr. Richard Taylor's "The Joys of Beekeeping". Leave this dog to those misanthropes, sadly numerous, who must constantly apologize for their own existance.

Long Live The Queen
A warm-hearted and touching look into the life of bees. Through the eyes of the author, the personality, social culture and care of bees are explored with love and wit. While scientifically sound, this book reads more like a novel than a text book. I highly recommend this book. Thoroughly enjoyable.

delightful read
Without being highly educated in scientific terms or history, this book was a wonderful and enertaining read. I have always been fascinated by insects, especially bees and ants, and this book fulfilled every question I had on bees. Longgood has written it so well that it is like reading a novel rather than nonfiction. This book makes one want to go out in the hills and study the nearest colony of insects all day long.

THIS BOOK MAKES A BEELOVER OUT OF EVERYONE.
MR LONGGOOD HAS TAKEN THE SEEMINGLY MUNDANE CHORES OF LIFE WITHIN THE BEE HIVE AND GIVEN THEM A PERSPECTIVE THAT EVEN THE THE MOST STAUNCH INSECT HATER WILL FIND FACINATING. THIS BOOK BRINGS YOU TO A LEVEL OF FASCINATION WITH LITTLE CREATURES WHICH WILL FOSTER AN APPRECIATION FOR BEES THAT YOU NEVER COULD HAVE IMAGAGINED.

As fascinating and sweet as the bees and their honey.
A splendid first-person account of discovering beekeeping and other beautiful secrets of the natural world. Longgood speculates and dreams as effectively as he observes and deduces. Great reading for anyone who loves the natural world and the processes we so often neglect. ... Read more

Book Description

Numbering more than nine thousand described species, ants rank among the most abundant and widespread of insect groups—the collective weight of ants in tropical forests and grasslands may constitute as much as 10 to 15 percent of the animal biomass. Written by thirty leading ant biologists, this comprehensive book describes procedures for surveying the diversity of ground-dwelling ants. It introduces a standardized protocol for collecting ant samples in any part of the world and for conducting repeated sampling over time, which enables researchers to analyze global and long-term patterns. Covering aspects of ant ecology and taxonomy, species identification, specimen preparation, and sources of sampling equipment, this book provides the necessary foundation for readers from a wide range of backgrounds. ... Read more

Book Description

"An Angler’s Guide to Aquatic Insects and Their Imitations" helps you identify the insects that trout and other fish feed on in streams and lakes across the country. This fully illustrated guide leads you step by step through the identification process. Then, after you make an indentification, you’ll find a list of fly patterns that match the natural, supplemented by information about the insect’s life cycle, habitat preferences, and specific flyfishing tactics to help you imitate its behavior.

The information in this book will help you solve the most basic flyfishing problem—finding out what the fish are feeding on and being able to match the insect and its behavior in the water. Best of all, no prior knowledge of entomology is required to use this guide. All you need to start is an aquarium net, a pair of tweezers, a few vials, the white lid off a pickle jar, and a desire to become a more knowledgeable, more successful flyfisher. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Clear and concise. Written for the fly fisher.
Although this will not ensure the identification of a collected specimen it will let you know what type it is, for the most common found, and it's basic behavour. A great book for the beginner,

The guide provides basic taxonomy for the layperson.
This guide allows an observant non-biologist to classify many nymphs, emergers and adult acquatic insects.

Besides the book you will need a good pocket loup, a small net, a collection bottle and a complete lack of squeemishness.

This book does much of the work of Schweibert's excellent Matching The Hatch in a far more basic and compact package. If you are a trout / steelhead fly-fisher and you want to expand your knowledge of the dinner faire of our favorite salmonids -- this is an excellent place to start. ... Read more

Book Description

Peterson First Guides are the first books the beginning naturalist needs.Condensed versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the animals, plants, and other natural things you are most likely to see.They make it fun to get into the field and easy to progress to the full-fledged Peterson Guides. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

This is an excellent book on the subject of beekeeping.
I have read most of the beekeeping books that Amazon carries and I will highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get into beekeeping. It goes into a lot of detail just where a new keeper needs it. If you are an experienced beekeeper and are looking for detailed information in things like queen rearing then you may want to to get a book written specifically on the subject because that area in particular is a volume or two into itself.

Good Read for Those Thinking about Bee Keeping
A nice read, but having kept bees for about 4 months now I found it a little weak. Prior to Vivian's I have read a book by Dadant Publishing which gave a good foundation. Also talking with other beekeepers has also helped conciderably. At times I found the book a little on the quaint-side which for me wasn't of interest. Also found his section on Africanized bees (so-called Killer bees) weak. Presently I am in Brazil working with these bees. Certainly they require a different approach a little more protection and a larger smoker, etc. I've been working with them since I started and am still at it. Certainly they can be aggressive, but one learns to adapt and they are a good producer of honey. An excellent and well informed article on the Africanized Bee can be found in "ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture" by A. I Root. The article gives a balanced and much more positive picture of our little Africans. They tend to be more disease and mite resistant, and build up quickly, etc.. So don't worry to much they might even bring some positive aspects to their weaker European cousins.

Excellent fisrt book
This was my first book on beekeeping, and I whole-heartedly recommend it to any beginning beekeeper. I now have some 20+ beekeeping books but this is still my personal favorite. The information on bee diseases is a little old, but the clear concise explanations of all other aspects of small scale beekeeping and his warm writing style more than make up for this. Mr. Vivian obviously enjoys his bees and his affection for them only serves to foster the same in the reader. If you are thinking of beekeeping, or introducing the subject to a friend then this is the book to buy.

Good first book; comprehensive enough but not overwhelming
I lost this book (maybe a jealous competitor took it), so I bought another.

An abseloutly fabulous book!
I have read many beekeeping books, and out of all of them, this is the one I would reccommend. It has very detailed pictures and instructions and smoothy guided me through having a successful hive! The author obiously knows bees very well and has a lot of experience with them. He also shares the "do's and don'ts" of beekeeping. ... Read more