Amazon.com

With cheese skippers, bluegrass billbugs, thrips, bagworms, walkingsticks, mange mites, fire ants and sweat bees, what's not to like?These fine bugs, plus 91 more, are depicted, explained and otherwise featured in all their glory. Berenbaum seems to know everything there is to know about insects, and she imparts her wisdom in humorous, engrossing, elucidating prose. ... Read more

Book Description

Combining authoritative, easy-to-read essays with accurate illustrations and full color photographs, this encyclopedia covers all of the families that encompass the million-plus species of insects and spiders. A unique and thoroughly current volume, it includes:
- Specially commissioned articles written by a team of scientists, zoologists and expert researchers
- Insightful and up-to-date information on insect and spider biology and behavior
- The latest scientific findings and interpretations
- Features that explore and discuss in depth topics that are of particular interest and importance, for example, Beetles as Agents of Biological Control

In addition to a comprehensive text, each species entry also has a Factfile for quick retrieval of essential data:
- Scientific Order and Population
- Distribution and Habitat
- Size, Color and Features
- Reproduction, Life Cycle and Longevity
- Conservation Status

Scientists, zoologists and expert researchers have contributed specially commissioned articles. These specialists, all experts in their fields, are actively involved in conducting frontline scientific or behavioral research. The inclusion of their latest findings and interpretations sets this title apart. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first comprehensive guide to insect life in a part ofthe world known for its abundant, and endangered, life forms. Charles Hoguesscholarship embraces vast geographical territoryMexico, Central and SouthAmerica, and the Caribbean. Color photographs and first-rate drawings illustratethe clearly written text. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

It's a good book.
For a latinoamerican entomologist, is short, for the rest, a must-have. I little bit expensive. Buy it if you are not LATINOAMERICAN. If you are, buy it anyway, if you want to compare.

Really good book!
Very complete book. Describes most groups, and the arthropods you are most likely to find. Not too technical, great for explaining to people what they are looking at. The 2 problems I can see with it, are the cost (although I do not mind paying for quality in the least, which is why I bought it and highly recommend it) and that being a general guide it sometimes does not go into as much depth as I would like. Still, I rate it as an awesome book!

a unique book on Latin American insects
This book by the late Dr. Hogue fills a needy slot in Latin American natural history by combining scientific detail with a simple, clear presentation of Latin America's many insect groups. Each group is discussed in turn with summries of taxonomy, diversity and natural history. Basic but useful black and white illustrations give one a "feel" for each of these group. While this is no field guide to identification, it is an excellent overview of information that is otherwise scattered through the literature. We use it at our field site in South America and the only complaint is that there is no Spanish translation! ... Read more

Book Description

Snake venom that digests human flesh. A building cleared of every living thing by a band of tiny spiders. An infant insect eating its living prey from within, saving the vital organs for last. These are among the deadly feats of natural engineering you'll witness in The Red Hourglass, prize-winning author Gordon Grice's masterful, poetic, often dryly funny exploration of predators he has encountered around his rural Oklahoma home.

Grice is a witty and intrepid guide through a world where mating ends in cannibalism, where killers possess toxins so lethal as to defy our ideas of a benevolent God, where spider remains, scattered like "the cast-off coats of untidy children," tell a quiet story of violent self-extermination. It's a world you'll recognize despite its exotic strangeness--the world in which we live. Unabashedly stepping into the mix, Grice abandons his role as objective observer with beguiling dark humor--collecting spiders and other vermin, decorating a tarantula's terrarium with dollhouse furniture, or forcing a battle between captive insects because he deems one "too stupid to live."

Kill. Eat. Mate. Die. Charting the simple brutality of the lives of these predators, Grice's starkly graceful essays guide us toward startling truths about our own predatory nature. The Red Hourglass brings us face to fanged face with the inadequacy of our distinctions between normal and abnormal, dead and alive, innocent and evil. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Riveting
Who knew just how deadly the world around us was? Grice covers a wide range of beasts: Spiders (Black Widow, Tarantula, Recluse a.k.a. Violin Spider), rattlesnake, pig, dogs (wolves, coyotes, jackals) and the praying mantis. He has a lyrical eloquence and interstices natural philosophy into the essays, making the book far more than a recitation or list of aspects of bestial killers.
One slightly disturbing feature is Grice's juvenile behavoir in collecting insects and tossing them together in tanks to see who lives. I began to feel that I was reading the Diary of a Madman, and hurried through these anecdotes.
The abilities of these various animals to kill and their instincts to murder--for food or fun--were fascinating, as were Grice's parallels to us as human predators.

Grice takes on arthropods with Poe-like sensitivity
What the reader gets with this book are seven essays written by a literary/humanities based college professor on seven particular predators: the black widow, the praying mantis, rattlesnakes, tarantulas, pigs, dogs, and the brown recluse spider. The writing is surpisingly good and the subject matter, while somewhat dark and gory, is fascinating.

The reader from Michigan calls this book 'backyard naturalism' in a derogatory manner. I am a biology major and, although the majority of Grice's claims appear consistent with similar data I have seen, this is not a hard science book; criticizing it in that context is an apples verses oranges category mistake. Conversely, I praise this work as 'backyard naturalism' at its best. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Red Hourglass from front to back. Take a bit of Peter Matthiessen's literary organicism, a pinch of Steven King's macabre involvment, E. O. Wilson's entomology, a dash of Desiderius Erasmus' sad, pragmatic humor, and some of Montaigne's candor, and you can wile away sumptuous moments zoosynthesizing the adventure of the 'The Incredible Shrinking Man' crossed with a bored boy's deific experimentation with arthropods, among other animals; all written with starkness and skill. What's a long pig? one may ask. The very sight of egregious brown recluse bites makes me kiss the soil of northern California.

This book is a good mix of the literary and scientific milieus. It draws one in by the curiousity and repulsion of the subject matter as ruse for the author's peculiar expository skill.

Erroneous Essays
A lazyman's nature book, "The Red Hourglass" is pure anthropomorphism--the author, who gives entirely ancecdodal evidence about nature's various predators, devoid of a single footnote (his sources for the anecdotes are rarely named; they are simply called "a scientist," or "a doctor"), doesn't seem to have wanted to concern himself with empirical, noted evidence. In other words, the reader has to take Grice's word about the accuracy of his "scientific" and historical comments, since he doesn't want to be weighted down by bibliographic sources or even noting his own sources. Even the National Enquirer or other cheesy newspaper tabloid occasionally mentions its sources. To be sure, this book makes for chilly reading, despite a less-than-sophisticated prose style, but don't rely on it as a nature guide. Rather, if you must read it, do so as a single person's view of the world of predators. Without scientific background or foundations, his voice is no more authoritative than yours or mine.

Informative and Entertaining
Grice portrays the predators of people in an enlightening and interesting way. I was so mesmerized by his experiences with such predators as the black widow, the pig, the tarantula, that I could not put the book down. The Red Hourglass was very well written, it provided factual information as witnessed by the author himself. It was so incredibly written, presenting the information not as a fact list, or text book style in leaving out description and emotion, but as a true literary masterpiece. I enjoyed this book immensly and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in nature, predation or wildlife biology.

great prose, sophisticated biology
Do yourself a favor and buy this book. If you like to read about the lives of strange critters, and appreciate fine prose and precise natural historical observation,you will enjoy this book immensely. The author also betrays a sophisticated understanding of both the science, and mystery, of life, which he nevertheless wears lightly. The down-to-earth spirit of Nebraska and Oklaholma also shines through the deceptively simple prose style. Finally, the book is devoid of any of the man and nature, circle of life, save the whale posing that mars so many nature books. This is true, backyard natural history, not politics. If you think you might like this book, you will. ... Read more

Book Description

Beginners and longtime butterfly watchers alike will find much to celebrate in Butterflies in the Backyard. Part natural history, part gardening guide, the book contains solid information on butterfly behavior and habitats and also explains in careful detail how to attract these lovely creatures to your backyard with plants and feeders. Includes up-to-date information on migration and conservation efforts, as well as an identification guide for the most common North American species. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Book!
We here at Planet Insect found this to be a book of facinating photographs, and offers a keen intro to the world of insects. Fits well into any library. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Charming!
A tiny jewel studded with quotes, lines of poetry, a smattering of history and lovely pictures of many of the more common butterflies with brief information about each. A real gem and perfect gift for any buterfly lover! ... Read more

Book Description

Some of the most beautiful and vivid shells in the world are found not on the beaches but in the trees of South Florida. This colorfully illustrated book offers for the first time a comprehensive survey of these rare snails and their shells, as well as their biology, natural history, evolution, and ecology.

Shells of the Liguus fasciatus tree snails display a stunning rainbow of colors, from pink, powder blue, and deep orange to chestnut and black, in patterns ranging from subtle to complex. Fifty-nine named color forms exist, and variations within the forms bring the total of distinct varieties to almost 80.

The author identifies all the various forms and their localities in this book. Color photographs of some 300 brilliantly hued shells illustrate the text. The migration and interbreeding of the Liguus fasciatus, including the many varieties that appear in only one defined habitat such as Matecumbe Key or Key Vaca, are described.

This remarkable compilation of all available information on these snails contains abundant reference material for scientists, but it is written in an informal style that will appeal to shell aficionados and amateur naturalists alike. Enthusiasts also will be interested to learn that the shells can be seen on walks through the forests of Everglades National Park and the hammocks of the Pinecrest area, and even from the road in several places in the Keys. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Floridas Lost Treasures
At last! Someone has opened the door, I never dreamed a book could make my heart skip a beat, make all my young memories from when I was growing up in Miami, come back so vividly. All the hours walking through heat,bugs,rain and swamps !!! Yas it was great. Only someone else who has joined in the comradery to such an adventure can relate to the hours of work it took to compile so much info on a subject which has been kept hidden from the laymen collectors. I collected Tree Snails back in the early sixties and seventies, I was privileged to meet and talk with some of the old time collectors, which sparked my appreciation of this unique shell. Thanks to Mr. Close for such a realistic and factual account of Florida Liguus. I was able to learn from this book even more, and it gave me a basis to educate my children to appreciate the special beauty of an indigenous species. I hope anyone who has an interest in this subject, will read this book and practice good conservation in protecting the special treasures of the Florida Everglades, for future generations to come!Sincerely,Arthur W. RieglePapaartr@aol.com ... Read more

Reviews (1)

For your bug hound this book is tops.
My 11 year old needed some type of basic reference (as well as did I to help him) in his overzealous bug hunts. This book with its pictures was a wonderful book to help him in his quest. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Encyclopedic Natural History. Field Guide?
This book is a superb natural history. The author has obtained information from studies in scientific journals and from experts in the field. He consulted 700 sources for information on how butterflies overwinter. There is a wealth of detail. For the Spring Azure alone, he describes four subspecies and six forms, giving appearance, range, and flight periods of each. 56 of its host plants are listed, the most common ones marked with an asterisk. There are 10 photographs of the forms. Host plants for all butterflies are listed in alphabetical order in the index with the species numbers on the same line.

There are better books for use as a field guide. This book is too big (8x10) to carry in a pocket or binoculars case. I would be afraid of damaging this large, relatively expensive book. The sheer number of photographs makes a quick tentative identification harder.

This is a book that any butterfly enthusiast should add to his library. However, he should start his library with one of the smaller guides, such as Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East, the Golden Guide, or one of the regional guides.

First Class - little more to say really
By far the best single volume covering the North American butterflies. I have only one reservation. I don't know if this is a cultural thing, but US guide books tend towards colour photos instead of drawings. For a foreigner (UK) who hasn't been brought up with the American fauna, it is nearly impossible to tell from a photo which marks on an insect's wing are characteristics of the species, and which are that-own-specific-individual-in-the-photo's unique birth marks, imperfections etc. The better of the European butterfly guide books, and most of the world's better bird books all use high quality generalized drawings/paintings.

Superb overall quality and an absolute must for anyone with the slightest serious interest.

By far the best one-volume guide to N.American Butterflies
Probably the most valuable feature of this book are its colour plates, which depict a huge amount of subspecies and variations. As the colour plates are made up of photographs and not drawings, the species have certain natural defects and thus make it easier to identify species caught in the wild. The text is also exceptional, pointing out minute differences between species and describing in great detail their natural behaviour. Another extremely useful feature is the maps, which point out the exact distribution of species throughout North America. This is a wonderful book and belongs in the library of any naturalist, scientist, or entomologist, both amateur and professional. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Exhaustive treatment of the subject
The authors have done a superlative job condensing years of research into a comprehensive encyclopedia of insect pests of palms. With a holistic approach that emphasizes the biological interaction of insects with their palm hosts, and a mix of basic and applied information, this volume is an invaluable reference for anyone who works with the "royalty of plants," from the enthusiastic hobbyist to an agronomist managing extensive palm plantations. Accessible and edifying for both scientists and non-scientists, "Insects on Palms" will remain the acknowledged authority on its subject for years to come.

Por fin disponemos de un buen libro sobre plagas de palmeras
Los amantes de las palmeras y los que trabajamos en este campo echábamos de menos un buen libro sobre las plagas de las palmeras. Desde que Lepesme publicara en 1947, en francés, "Les Insectes des Palmiers", nadie se había atrevido a poner al día, de forma tan profunda, los conocimientos sobre los insectos de las palmeras y las modernas técnicas de control. Por fin, los autores de este libro, que poseen una amplia experiencia en estos insectos, nos ofrecen una herramienta de trabajo indispensable, moderna y llena de conocimientos. ... Read more

Book Description

Spiders Thematic Unit is based on the following pieces of literature: Spiders, Eight Legs, Charlotte's Web. This reproducible resource is filled with ready-to-use lessons and cross-curricular activities. Also included are management ideas, creative suggestions for the classroom, and a bibliography. ... Read more

Book Description

A pioneer of high-speed photography, Stephen Dalton is one of the world's greatest nature photographers. These 250 astonishing images celebrate the birds, insects, mammals and countryside that Dalton appreciates as an artist, a scientist and a lover of wildlife.

The concentrated energy of the visual work is offset by the light touch Dalton brings to the accompanying text. Informative and engaging, he tells of the challenges of adjusting to his subject's schedule rather than following his own. But Dalton's greatest gift is revealing the adaptive genius of some of nature's most familiar creatures.

Secret Worlds features: - Nocturnal predators capturing prey - Frogs, mice, and fleas in mid-leap - The Jesus Lizard walking on water

Naturalists everywhere will be enthralled by this vivid exploration of the hidden worlds that surround us. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Alchemy of Time Frozen, Nature Revealed
Stephen Dalton is a master artist and naturalist of our time. His work produces living treasures of the beauty and wonder of life on Earth, and highlights the need to preserve nature against the destructiveness of human endeavours.

Dalton forces the viewer to stop in time with the subject photographed and see a moment as it can never be seen.

While there is joy and wonder is looking at Dalton's amazing photographs, there is also sadness in knowing that so many of these incredible creatures are going extinct.

Must-have, magnificent photos, fascinating facts
This is absolutely a must-have coffee table book for any nature lover. It is filled with spectacular color photos on glossy paper so clear & vibrant they pop off the page. Dalton's high-speed photography is pure genius.

Bats, birds, ladybugs, butterflies, dragonflies, bees & a vast array of other animals are captured in mid flight. The several frames of a chameleon lashing out its tongue to capture its prey are captivating.

You also get to see numerous frogs & mice as they rest, swim, eat, climb plants, & leap through the air. A few plants such as moss, fungus, liverworts, sedge & an oak seeding are also shown up close.

Captions for each creature give fascinating information on their daily lives, eating habits, & special abilities. Get this book, I promise you won't be disappointed. ... Read more