Book Description

How do a tarantula's fangs work differently than those of other spiders? What transforms solitary locusts into a million-member eating machine? How can insects help investigators uncover crime-scene clues? Insects & Spiders, an exciting new Explore Your World™ handbook, incorporates the Discovery Channel's unique authoritative approach and acclaimed visuals to answer these and other questions in a captivating blend of information and entertainment.

Insects & Spiders features:
 ¸  Background information on insect evolution, anatomy and physiology, behavior, habitats and seasonal cycles, and the mysterious world of insect societies.
 ¸  A detailed look at the spider's anatomy, life cycle, survival tactics, and life as a predator.
 ¸  Examinations of spider silk, web-making, and the methods of spider courtship.
 ¸  Practical advice on how to identify and study favorite species and helpful tips on caring for insects and spiders as pets.
 ¸  An identification guide to 160 insects and spiders from around the world, organized by environment.
 ¸  More than 300 full-color photos and illustrations.
... Read more

Book Description

These masters of aerial combat are the best fliers in the animal kingdom

Harmless to humans, yet a dreaded predator in the insect world, dragonflies swoop after prey, fight rivals, hover like helicopters as they defend territory, and engage in elaborate courtship displays. Brooks explains how ferocious larvae bloom into masters of aerial predation and reveals the beauty and complex lives of these intriguing insects. ... Read more

Book Description

Buzzing with swarms of buggy outings for families and school groups, this unique educational travel guide offers a bug's-eye view of the United States. Humming with details on more than 140 of the best bug and butterfly exhibits, this guide leads travelers by state to the buggiest zoos, museums, nature centers, insectariums, and botanical gardens. Perfect for planning family vacations, daylong excursions, and school field trips, the unique guide includes a month-by-month calendar of 75 delightful festivals including the Incredible Edible Insect Event in New Orleans and the Tarantula Festival in Coarse Gold, California. Also included are educational resources such as insect web sites and a comprehensive list of official state insects and butterflies. This bugged-out guide will delight any insect enthusiast, from parents and educators to nature lovers and savvy travelers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Chock full of locations, descriptions, and solid information
Compiled and written by Troy Corley, Let's Go Buggy!: The Ultimate Family Guide To Insect Zoos And Butterfly Houses is a straightforward vacation guide to over 100 insect-themed, family-friendly places in the United States. From acquiring pet bugs, to butterfly releases, to honey harvest celebrations, and more, Let's Go Buggy! is chock full of locations, descriptions, and solid information concerning hours, admission fees, web sites, and more. Let's Go Buggy! is very highly recommended for planning a unique, distinctive, memorable, educational, and thoroughly fun family trip.

Get Kids Excited About Bugs & Butterflies
If you want to walk among a thousand butterflies or hope to excite your child about the wonders of insects, this is the book for you. I recommend Let's Go Buggy to everyone I meet who wants to visit a butterfly atrium or insect zoo. Its many other resources - web sites, book recommendations, etc. -- are excellent for insect enthusiasts of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Mosquito Book
This book is really funny but it also has lots of facts about mosquitoes ... Read more

Book Description

A Wonderful Journey into the Insect World through Literature, Science, Art, and Popular Culture Aristotle on metamorphosis

• Alfred Russel Wallace on the rare butterflies of the Malay Archipelago
• Jean-Henri Fabre on the art of the dung beetle
• Dave Barry on naming the U.S. Official National Insect
• Charles Darwin on seagoing insects
• William Beebe on an army ant invasion
• Kevin Kelly on bee—and human—swarming
• Jonathan Schell on postnuclear insect survival
• Gary Larson on when insects take over
• May Berenbaum on maggots and murderers
• Henry David Thoreau on race wars among the ants
• Thomas Eisner on stealth bugs
• David George Gordon on appreciating the lowly cockroach
• Maurice Maeterlinck on the queen-bees wedding
• Edward O. Wilson on insect societies

…plus many other essays, illustrations, cartoons, screenplays, poems, recipes, tales, and observations on insect life.

Reviews (4)

Definitely interesting
This is such a diverse book - each entry is pretty short so you can pick up the book for a short read. There are some humorous parts, some dense parts, lots of interesting facts. Each entry has a short intro by the author to give some context to who the writer of the piece was and sometimes a bit of background on the essay itself. There are some neat drawings too (grasshoppers through metamorphosis, moth ears, a walking stick to name a few) There's lots of variety in terms of subjects covered ranging from butterflies to bees to aphids to earwigs to ants, wasps and more. Defiintely a good book for anyone interested in insects and it would make an especially nice gift since the content is so unusual.

Unusual and interesting
This book is a collection of short pieces about every conceivable type of insect. A few are complete essays, but most are excerpts from longer works. At least one is a one-panel Gary Larson cartoon!

Most of the selections are entertaining, or at least interesting. Many are records of direct observation by naturalists in the 19th or early 20th Centuries. Usually they have some distinguishing feature such as freakish behavior, first observation, or an exceptionally interesting experiment included.

This is not a scientific book on insects--Although many of the authors are scientists, the excerpts don't fit together to make a textbook or organized survey of insects. What it is is very interesting and entertaining--A good bathroom or bedside book for the insect-lover. Definitely do not choose it as your first or only book in trying to learn about insects, but it makes a good addition to the insect library of an enthusiast.

An entertaining and comprehensive book
If you're interested in insects, this book is for you. An excellent collection of a a large quantity of writings and other materials, all about insects. Good bedside reading, as each excerpt is relatively short.

A cornucopia of creepy-crawlies
This is a beautifully and cleverly edited eclectic collection of stories, articles, poems, scientific treatises, and even cartoons about insects. There are quaint stories from the eighteenth century, studious articles from the nineteenth, and modern selections from such twentieth century experts as Edward O. Wilson, Roger B. Swain. Karl von Frisch, May Berenbaum, Harold Oldroyd and others. Charles Darwin is represented, Aristotle, Alfred Russel Wallace, Thoreau, even the Bible makes an appearance. There are selections from a novella, A.S. Byatt's "Morpho Eugenia"; poems, Wordsworth's "To a Butterfly," Robert Burns's "To a Louse"; and even a bit of a movie, THEM! (1954). Obviously, editors, Hoyt and Schultz are as intent at entertaining as informing. You'll find dozens of different insects here, from house flies and ants to dung beetles and glow-worms to ticks, wasps, silverfish, etc. Each selection is presented with a short note from the editors and followed by a bibliographical entry. There is an index of authors and one of subjects. The selections are collected under various heading, e.g., "Insects Praised," "Insects Reviled," "Insect Architecture," etc. The sheer breath of insect behavior presented here is unnerving: How multifarious are the realities of life! Noteworthy is the meticulous care taken with the editing and proofreading. This is a good and strange read. ... Read more

Book Description

A collection of engaging and provocative essays, Prairie Soul extends the transcendental tradition of writers like Aldo Leopold and Annie Dillard. Entomologist and nature writer Jeffrey Lockwood writes about humans and insects from the grasslands of Wyoming, where he has lived and worked for almost two decades. Like Ed Abbey’s Southwestern desert or Wendell Berry’s rural Kentucky, Lockwood’s home environment and study of grasshoppers form an interesting starting point for consideration of universal concerns and connections with the world at large. Lockwood thoughtfully examines:

• Spirituality and the place of religion in science

• The soulful connection between human beings and the places they live

• Grasslands and ecology

• The environment as common ground that transcends cultural and political boundaries

Prairie Soul is the story of one man’s evocative journey of ecological, moral, and spiritual discovery, unfolding on the high plains of Wyoming and stretching to the grasslands of France and central Asia.

Possessing an extraordinary sense of harmony with these often forbidding and unforgiving landscapes, Lockwood’s essays are paradoxical revelations, blending the deeply familiar with the profoundly exotic. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the most comprehensive and interesting book on bugs written to date.Chapters include, "The Universe as Seen from a Suburban Porch," "Year of the Locust," and "Water Lizards and Aerial Dragons."Howard Ensign Evans does a remarkable job explaining the appetites, jobs, and dangers of every possible crawling, flying and leaping insect.Even the lowly mosquito deserves respect and has a reason for being here, according to Evans.A real treat for every listener. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

WOW What a great book!
I love this boook!!!!! Its easy to read, yet it goes into enough depth that you really learn about the insects. There's a whole chapter just on fireflies for example. Its the kind of book you can just pick up, read a chapter and say - wow, that's neat. (At least that's what i say) then I'll be outside and I'll be able to see whatever it is that I read about and understand so much more. So basically, the content is fantastic and the writing is so accessible that its not at all intimidating but also not patronizing. Its just very straightforward and so informative. I've learned so much. Its one of my favorite books and I wasn't even that into bugs before this. You won't go wrong with this one!

A bug book for all people.

Howard Ensign Evans combines all the elements of a great writer (by any standard) in his 1966 book, Life on a Little-Known Planet. He has an easy and conversational style as he takes you across time and the globe investigating the secret life of insects.

My day to day contact with cockroaches, crickets, house flies, and dragonflies has become less of an irritation and more an opportunity to explore these ancient creatures. I have read and reread this book whole and in sections always finding Mr. Evans amusing, thought provoking, and readable. As a former elementary teacher, this book worked its way on to the playground and into my classroom replacing fear and disgust with knowledge and respect. ... Read more

Book Description

New Edition. ... Read more

Book Description

Pocket-size paperback with all the information needed to help you determine what species of Southwestern dragonfly or damselfly you are seeing.

Includes ALL the Southern California dragonflies and all the common Arizona dragonflies, Nevada dragonflies, Utah dragonflies, New Mexico dragonflies, Colorado dragonflies & those dragonflies that are common in Northern California.

129 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies.

~350 full-color photographs

Photos of all males, most females. (ALL new photos)

Addtional black & white line drawings illustrate damselfly appendages.

Includes descriptions of males, females, habitat, flight periods and distribution.

Checklist of ALL 189 SW species included.

Companion website shows more photos, descriptions, & links to geographic distribution maps. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pocket Guide to Common Southwest Dragonflies and Damselflies
This delightful field guide, measuring only 4.5" x 5.25", small enough to be carried everywhere, includes 129 common dragonflies and damselflies of the six states of the southwest--California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Colorado, my home state. Of the 350 superb colored photographs, almost half show dragons AND damsels much larger than life, showing their bright colors and intricate patterns in amazing detail. All 129 males are pictured and most of the females. And this small book is packed with an incredible amount of information: descriptions of males and females, their habitats, flight periods and often their habits. Each family has its own page, making identification easier. There's a glossary and references and an invaluable list of websites for further information, including one prepared just for this book. An extended checklist of all 189 species tells you at a glance which species live in which states. Although the author titles it for beginners, this book is useful for almost everyone with an interest in dragonflies--and it's hard not to be fascinated by these beautiful creatures. Dragonflying is becoming increasingly popular as birders and butterfliers take up dragonflying as well, and this book is a winner for those dragonfliers of the southwest! ... Read more

Book Description

This essential handbook covers where to find butterflies; how to observe and photograph them; their behavior, biology, ecology, and life histories; butterfly gardening; butterfly rearing; identification; and conservation. ... Read more

Book Description

Many insects are difficult even for the experts to identify. In the
new Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, readers
will find a wealth of information on the amazing observable behaviors of
insects and their fascinating life histories. Naturalists Kenn Kaufman
and Eric Eaton use a broad ecological approach rather than overly technical
terms, making the book accessible and understandable for everyone.
The lively and engaging text emphasizes the insects that are most
likely to catch our attention but includes information on all groups that
can be recognized. The guide is lavishly illustrated, with more than
2,000 digitally enhanced photographs representing every major group
of insects found in North America north of Mexico. Comprehensive yet
compact, authoritative yet easy to understand, this is the perfect guide
for anyone who wants to know more about the fascinating and diverse
insects of North America. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

What is that poking through the screen?
The biggest flaw of this book should be mentioned right away: it has no color illustrations except on the cover. There are rather small black-and-white drawings and descriptions of an insect's range of colors, but for an interested amateur like me ninety percent of a bug's identification is its color.

On the other hand, the author quickly taught me how to tell the difference between a damselfly and a dragonfly (size and the way they hold their wings at rest). I also learned that most of the moths banging against the screens at night are cutworm moths. I'm probably doing the local farmers a favor by luring them to my window.

The book is stuffed with interesting facts but because of its size (324 pages) it must necessarily go lightly over the ground for each family of insects. For instance ants (Family Formicidae) are disposed of in two pages, and I'm still without a clue as to the species of tiny red ants that seem to sneak into the house around the window frames.

"Insects of the Great Lakes Region" is divided into five chapters, plus glossary, appendices, bibliography, and a heavily Latin, sometimes confusing index. Antlions are listed by their English name, but not ants. Fireflies are listed as lightningbugs in the index, but as 'Firefly Beetles' in the header to the text.

Chapter 1 is a 'geological and biological history of the Great Lakes Region.' Chapter 2 covers this region's entomological history, and Chapter 3, the distributional patterns of its insects.

Perhaps to make up for this book's lack of color, Chapter 4 teaches the principles of insect classification. Look for distinctive shapes such as a thrip's fringed wings, or unique body appendages such as pincers. Does the insect sting you or chew holes in your clothes? Does it reach through the screen with its nasty little proboscis and try to suck your blood?

Chapter 5, "Insect Fauna of the Great Lakes Region" comprises the major portion of the book. This is where the reader can browse through some fascinating natural histories. Although the tenor of this review might seem anti-insect, there are some wondrous six-legged Arthropoda in this region--even a species of mosquito that spends its larval stage in the bog pitcher, and somehow manages to avoid being digested by this unique, carnivorous plant.

The appendices guide the reader to entomological organizations, periodicals, insect collections, collecting regulations, as well as indicating which insects are endangered or threatened. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Exotic pest infestations -- important lessons from the past
This is in important publication in view of current pest introductions and eradication programs. This book serves as an invaluable resource to outline the biological significance of exotic pests as well as issues regarding public policy of eradication efforts.Failures and successes are discussed.

In 2000 we are revisiting many of these issues- the citrus canker eradication effort in Florida took 30 years... and now we are battling another infestation of this devastating plant disease.Fire ant has spread to California.Repeated infestations of exotic fruit flies are found in the US.

Dahlstein and Garcia's compilation of case histories can help the general public, eradication and regulatory personnel, policy makers and scientists to understand issues and concerns that also apply to our current problems. ... Read more

Book Description

The overuse and misuse of insecticides some four decades ago created major environmental problems and was followed by the development of an 'integrated pest management' approach to crop pests. This approach utilizes a combination of host plant resistance and cultural, biological and chemical control methods. Crop improvement programs emphasize the breeding of crop varieties with multiple resistance to pests, and resistant varieties developed in recent years represent some of the greatest achievements of modern agriculture. This book presents a broad overview of host plant resistance to insect pests. It shows how plants can defend themselves naturally and how insects have adapted to overcome these mechanisms through coevolution. it also describes screening and breeding for insect resistance. It represents a major advanced textbook for entomologists, plant breeders and all concerned with crop protection. ... Read more

Book Description