Insects Books

This book was required reading in my high school biology class, and I loved it. It is very readable, so you don't even realize you are learning about science and the scientific method. And the cartoons are priceless!

Title: To Know A Fly
Author: Vincent G. Dethier
Publisher: Holden Day; New Ed (June 1963)
Paperback: 119 pages
ISBN: 0070165742
Language: English

The complexity and simplicity of the "fly" has been ingeniously revealed to readers of all ages and breadth of scientific knowledge in Vincent G. Dethier's To Know A Fly. While the general reader may not be attracted to a book about flies due to the associated cultural stigma that brands flies as disgusting, ugly, useless pests this book brings attention to their value in regards to the advancement of scientific research.
To Know a Fly is a painless approach to the nature and value of the scientific method with the capability of exciting even the non-scientist. The employment of creative yet simple experiments are conveyed with both humor and wit. While trying to explain the importance of experimental controls Dethier tells a story of a man who believed he had trained a flea to jump. The man prepares an experiment where he progressively removes different appendages. First the feelers are removed and when the man requests "jump" the flea jumps. He continues to remove different parts and the flea continues to jump on command. Eventually only the flea's hind legs remain at which point he removes them and the flea fails to respond to the command. The man concludes that fleas hear with their hind legs. This statement is of course silly yet a great illustration that if experimental controls had been in place a more accurate conclusion could have been generated.
As the author artfully leads the reader on a journey of wonder exploring the many idiosyncrasies of fly, the reader is presented with many simple experiments that can be preformed at home. For example, in one experiment the reader is guided to answer the question: Do flies taste with their feet? First the fly is frozen in the freezer to immobilize him and then swiftly attached at the wings to a pencil that has been coated with hot candle wax. The fly is then lowered so that his feet touch the top of a bowl of water - if the fly is thirsty he will lower his proboscis. When he is done he will retract the proboscis. If the fly's feet are then lowered into a bowl of sugar-water he will quickly extend his proboscis and when quickly dipped into the water again he will retract the proboscis. I'm looking forward to trying some of these experiments myself once the snow melts and I can actually find some flies.
In addition to wondering if flies taste with their feet Dethier asks and answers some other silly yet curious questions, throughout the text, concerning fly behavior and physiology such as: Does the fly land on the ceiling by executing a half roll or an inside loop? To which Dethier reveals the answer is quite interesting. Flies actually hover below the ceiling, reach up above their bodies and attach their front legs to the ceiling and then flip their body over and attach the other legs. A more complicated question presented in the text is: What mechanism causes a fly to select different proteins at particular stages in life? Dethier not only provides several possibilities to explain this phenomenon but also suggests possible experiments to test these hypotheses.
Dethier asserts that the acquisition of fancy equipment and a college degree may help foster a great scientist but that there are two essentials: an insatiable curiosity about life and an experimental organism. He asserts that flies are the ideal experimental organism made up of over 50,000 species. However, today, 44 years after the publishing of this book, there are over 100,000 known species of flies. The validity of some facts in this book can be questioned due to the major advancements in technology that have taken place in the last 50 years. It is recommended that the information in this book be used as a guide rather than as a reference book for it is much too old and out of date.
However due to his credibility it is likely that information in this book was presented accurately based on the current information at the time it was written because Dr. Vincent G. Dethier was a prominent insect physiologist, research entomologist and an expert in his field. He wrote over 170 scientific papers and 15 scientific books of which To Know A Fly and several other books that were written for individuals that did not have a scientific background one of which, Crickets & Katydids: Concerts and Solos, won the John Burroughs Medal for distinguished Nature Writing
Dethier's common sense approach to science makes it enjoyable for anyone with a curiosity for the way the world works. This would be a great book for students starting out in science or students with an aversion to science because it is presented in a humorous tone with interesting antidotes to keep the readers attention. Because this book was written for a non-science audience there is not a lot of technical language among the 14 short chapters making this book easily read within two sittings.
From start to finish there are intertwined stories, experiments, facts, observations, cartoons, questions, and even excerpts from plays. This compilation of different types of writing within one book allows the reader to not only walk away with some noteworthy facts about the fly but also insight into the mind of a scientist. In addition, the simplicistic manner in which the information is presented is capable of provoking thought in even the most advanced scientists.

I assigned this little gem of a book to my psychology students when I was teaching at Antioch College in the late 1960's. I am now asking the teachers who are offering a Science and Math Summer Camp for Alaska Native middle school students to read it, to re-ignite their sense of the fun and excitement of scientific inquiry. Truly a timeless book, it is similar to "The Little Prince" in its capacity to stay in one's thoughts for decades.

An absolute classic little book that uses humor and cartoons to illustrate the joys of science and the scientific method. Perfect for students from junior high through university. I only wish it was still in print so I could assign it for the students in my animal behavior lab course.

"To Know a Fly" is very well known among researchers in the life sciences, but almost completely unknown to the general reading public. That's a great pity, as this is one of the clearest and wittiest books ever written about how science is actually done. Dethier does a superb job in conveying the excitement of discovery, even in as mundane a subject as the common housefly.

Amidst entertaining passages describing how to anethesize a fly (pop it in in the freezer) or make fly scapels (break up razor blades) or surgical probes (drop dressmaker's pins on the floor) you'll learn, in passing, a lot about the neurophysiology of the fly.

If you're student in the life sciences, you owe it to yourself to hunt down a copy of this book. If you're a reader with even a casual interest in science, grab this one if you come across a copy.

Turtles into Butterflies is a marvelous tale for children and adults alike. Turtle is an inspiration to us all, overcoming self-doubt and finding self-love. This book teaches children to accept themselves in spite of their differences with others. It teaches children that they can appreciate the qualities of others without having to give up who they are to become someone they're not. It is a helpful reminder for adults that we should be ourselves and teach our children their value through our own living examples. This book is filled with lovely illustrations and exciting adventures as turtle learns that he is beautiful. This book also teaches the value of friendship. It is important for kids to learn that sometimes friendship entails uplifting our friends when they are feeling down. I am grateful to Dane for writing a book that teaches children the value of self-love in a fun, creative and adventurous way.

This book is a marvelous tale for children and adults alike. Turtle serves as an inspiration to us all, overcoming self-doubt and finding self-love, a notion we certainly want our children to learn. It teaches children that they can be proud of who they are in spite of their differences with each other. It teaches children that they can appreciate the qualities of others while loving themselves, that they do not have to give up who they are to try to be someone they're not. It is an excellent story for adults as well, reminding us to be ourselves and to teach our children through our own living examples. This book is filled with lovely illustrations and exciting adventures as turtle discovers that he is beautiful. This book also teaches the value of frienship, demonstrating that butterfly is a true friend by helping turtle see his beauty. It is important for kids to learn that friendship sometimes entails uplifting our friends when they are feeling down. I am grateful to Dane for writing a book that teaches children the value of self-love in a fun, creative and adventurous way.

this book is asbolutely wonderful not only for children but for kids of all ages! i highly recommend this book!

I was lucky to be introduced to this book. It's such a fun book with a Wonderful story about going for your dreams. Adults and Children will love this book. It will touch your Heart, too.

This book is awesome. My kids totally loved it and they want me to read it to them over and over again. The book is not long which makes it easy to read to my kids before they go to bed repeatedly. I'd recommend it to anyone whose got children. Jorento is a gifted writer of children's books.

For children 3 years old and up.

As Faith the snail relates in this simple, pleasant tale of transformation, "As the world turns, so do you. When you change for the good, you change the world too."

Faith is the wise mentor of Anew, a young caterpillar who feels growing pangs of doubt and uncertainty. Though Anew dreams of standing atop rosebuds and viewing mountains from the sky, he is also afraid. Through further dreams and Faith's counsel, Anew learns that "thinking like a caterpillar does not work for butterflies." Following the flow of his own inner yearnings, Anew comes to embrace the mystery of change.

This charming story provides reassurance to young readers who are just learning to navigate their own changing world. Vibrant watercolor illustrations from award-winning artist Aries Cheung add humor and a lovely dash of zip to Anew's adventures.

Growing up my father and I had a favorite children's book that we read together every night. My father passed away last year but the memories of those moments are still with me today. I had been searching for a similar story that I could share with my children. Now I have found it. Wings of Change is a wonderful book that helps to explain the process and importance of change in life. I found that this story does a nice job of communicating this powerful lesson to children and adults alike. I highly recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a special way to connect with their children and help guide them through life.

Wings of Change follows the adventures of a very happy little caterpillar named "Anew." Through a series of dreams and with the help of his friend and mentor, Faith the snail, Anew learns to accept his approaching metamorphosis, discovering that, "thinking like a caterpillar does not work for butterflies." Franklin Hill's inspired and entertaining analogy shows young readers that they need not fear the inevitable changes within their own lives. Aries Cheung's artwork is perfectly suited to this charming, insightful, and very original picturebook story.

Wings of Change presents the children's story of a contented caterpillar who is afraid to become a butterfly. This simple metaphor reflects the insights that Dr. Franklin Hill has gained while facilitating progressive changes in education. Dr. Hill specializes in planning new educational facilities. He is well acquainted with the effects of change on the young and the young at heart. Dr. Hill created this beautiful story to illustrate how the process of change, though sometimes scary, can lead to positive transformation. The rich illustrations by renowned graphic artist, Aries Cheung, are exceptional and colorful. Confused by the changes he feels are coming, Anew the caterpillar looks to his friend, Faith, for guidance. Faith reassures Anew that one positive action can change the whole world. Anew chooses to trust Faith and his own dreams. Anew finds happiness as he transforms into a vibrant butterfly. He can finally view the meadows from the sky! Dr. Hill's excellent book Wings of Change will provide peace and optimism for young readers learning to navigate their own changing world.

Back when he designed his first school, Frank Hill did all the right things. He talked to the faculty members about their programs and goals. He studied all the literature about the future of education and educational technology. He met with the school board to discuss its vision for the district. Then he integrated his research into a building that was the school of the future, primed and prepared for all the educational changes and progress everyone had outlined to him with such enthusiasm.

The educators took one look at the plans and declared they didn't like them.

"I thought, 'what went wrong?'" Hill said. "Then I realized it wasn't the design, it was the changes it would require. People are afraid of change. It's human nature. So I had to figure out how to assuage their fears."

That was 15 years ago. Hill, an urban planner and president of Hill and Associates of Bellevue, has learned quite a bit about the fear of change and what to do about it; enough that he has designed or redesigned more than 60 schools, each time matching the design to its future, not present needs and, each time, running into people who thought those changes were a fine idea, until they realized they were the ones who would have to adapt to them.

Hill decided the easiest thing to do would be to simply give them a book on overcoming one's fear of change. So he wrote one.

All Ages:
"Wings of Change" (Illuminations Arts, Bellevue, illustrations by Aries Cheung) is a book for children, actually. But its principles can apply to any of us. In it, a good-natured caterpillar named Anew is quite happy with his life. Then his friend Faith, a snail, explains that changes are afoot. Anew doesn't understand. But Faith reassures him, "As the world turns, so do you. When you change for the good, you change the world, too."
Anew starts having odd dreams. In one, he decides he can fly. But caterpillars can't fly so crash he does to the ground. Then he dreams he has a butterfly's wings, but a caterpillar's body. He tries to fly again and again, he crashes. Then he dreams has a butterfly's wings and body, but when a bird tries to catch him, rather than fly, he runs like a caterpillar and gets snagged in some thorns.

Thinking like a caterpillar does not work for butterflies, he realizes. Faith explains that the dreams were preparing him for a very big change. Instinctively, Anew starts spinning his cocoon. A few weeks later, he emerges as a butterfly; but not just any butterfly. The new Anew has prepared himself for this, the biggest change of his life. The strange new experiences of flying and seeing the world from the sky are fun, not frightening. While he enjoyed being a caterpillar, he enjoys being a butterfly more.

The fear:
A simple parable, "Wings of Change" incorporates a number of the principles Hill developed for overcoming fear of change.
First, he found, everyone is apprehensive to some degree about change. After all, not all change is good, Hill said. Consider the changes brought about by an earthquake or a heart attack.
As a result, people tend to respond to the good change in three general ways. Some pick up the latest trend and throw themselves into it with blind enthusiasm. The problem with that is they often have no vision for the changes they are making. Like Anew, they fly because they think they should, not because they are prepared for it.

Next, people often want to change, but can't get rid of their old behaviors. They may have butterfly wings, but they still have a caterpillar's body.

Finally, a lot of us end up with all the latest technical and intellectual developments in our fields at our fingertips, but we still think it terms of the status quo. We can't integrate our style with the new circumstances. We have a butterfly's body, but we still think like a caterpillar.
What to do?
Hill found the first step in adapting to change is to recognize how the change will make things better. If you are dealing with someone else's fear of change, you do that by involving the person in the process and showing how the change will be relevant to their goals and activities. Then you demonstrate how they can use elements of the change to accomplish more of what they want to do, Hill said.

Sounds fairly simple. But you're dealing with fear, which is both complicated and irrational. So a fair amount of patience is a good idea.

Dealing with children's fear of change is actually easier, Hill said. Childhood is a continuum of change and kids often sense when a change in their lives in imminent. When it is imminent, encourage the kid to view changes as growth and improvement, Hill said. And, help the child make the change within a safe environment so he or she can exercise control of it.
"Fear of change is often the fear of loss of control, and for good reason," Hill said.

Find your focus:
It is a legitimate fear because change is often thrust upon us, whether we are prepared or not, he said. When that happens, the key is to concentrate on your personal intentions; what will make your world better, even when the world beyond it is in a state of confusion and flux? Often you can adapt elements of the change swirling around you and make them work for you, Hill said.

"Wings of Change" is Hill's first book. He has three more in mind, all of them children's books. He recently finished "Wings Within" about a spiritually self-actualized snail, and is working on books three and four. He won't reveal their plots, other than to say they involve bees and butterflies.
"I write children's books because if I can make things clear enough for children to understand, I just might understand them myself," Hill said.

Hubbell, Sue. 1994. Broadsides From the Other Orders: A Book of Bugs Random House Reprinted Edition 276 pages, ISBN # 0-679-75300-1
Broadsides From the Other Orders: A Book of Bugs is an amazing book about bugs that combines entomological facts with personal experience. Sue Hubbell is not an entomologist, but her book is quite credible because of her collaboration with notable entomologists, her experience as a writer about bugs and her fieldwork. Hubbell is an accredited Bee journalist and her works A Country Year and A Book of Bees, was recognized by The New York Times Book Review as notable books of the year.
In this book, Hubbell takes her curiosity for bugs and made it a work of art. Her inquisitive nature for bugs can be seen from chapter to chapter, as she explores and learns about various bugs and their relative orders. It is organized into thirteen chapters, in which they are written in narrative/natural history style. In each chapter one learns of a new insect in which there would be information about their life cycle, feeding behavior, mating habits, defense mechanism, phenotypic appearance and ancestry. In no particular order, the chapters are about Butterflies, Midges and Gnats, Katydids, Water Striders, Syrphid Flies, Camel Crickets, Daddy Long Legs (not strictly an insect), Dragonflies, Black Flies, Lady Beetles, Bravo Bees, Silverfish and the Gypsy Moth.
In each chapter there are interesting facts such as; "For every pound of us there are 300 pounds of bugs (p17)," "In bug design: the poorer the vision, the larger the antennae; the more powerful the vision, the shorter the antennae (p164)," "bees have hairs growing between the facets of their compound eyes, and when the hairs are removed experimentally, the bee is unable to fly accurately (p165)." You would also be exposed to entomological terms such as metamorphosis, type specimen, sexual dimorphism, aposematic coloration and Batesian and Mullerian mimicry. Furthermore, Hubbell's addition of myths, childhood experiences with bugs, creative drawing and poetry; brings humor and charm to the book. After all, it is the little bit of everything and her curiosity, which makes this book enlightening, seductive, memorable and unique.
I am a first timer at studying insects and I can pretty much say that after reading this book I am more knowledgeable about bugs; and have realized that they are beautiful mysterious creatures. I have learned a lot of things and had fun doing it, because as a visual learner Hubbell's book was alluring and picturesque because of the creative drawings. I do believe Sue Hubbell's purpose was to share her curious passion for bugs, while educating readers about the basics, which I think she did quite well. I must say reading this book definitely peaked my interest in studying bugs, because she presented the facts in an interesting and quite unforgettable fashion, plus the book is well written. I especially liked her journalistic style and felt that the information presented was thorough and precise.
Although, Hubbell's book was thorough from chapter to chapter, I do believe that she should have written about more bugs. Instead of every chapter being about an insect/bug, Hubbell could have separated her chapters by insect orders and lump the insects that belonged in that order together. For example, there was one chapter about butterflies and another one on gypsy moths; she should have put these two together, which would leave room for new bugs.
However, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about insects and who are afraid of insects and think them as creepy; because by the time you are completed you would have second thoughts and fall in love with them.

I love studying insects and Ms. Hubbell's book makes a pretty interesting addition to my collection. Her research on the lady beetles and black flies are nothing to complain about. However, recent studies have concluded that Darwin's pepper moth research is flawed, and in Ms. Hubbell's own words "For years biologists taught their students that the viceroy butterfly,...was a prime example of an edible Bastian mimic. ...and all the lecture notes and guidebooks will have to be rewitten." Maybe she needs to rewrite her own notes? Other than the lock-step Darwinianism, Ms. Hubbell make a compelling argument for the closer study of insects from the custest to the most annoying. A very good read from someone who obviously adores her subject and makes it interesting for the layman (latin names and all!).

This is a neat book. Hubell takes a look at a number of insects that we're all familiar with (butterflies, ladybugs, daddy longlegs, black flies, silverfish, katydids, dragonflies, crickets, and more) and has a short essay on each, taking us past just the basics that field guides provide to understand and appreciate more about the lives and behaviors of these animal. There are also neat little fun facts like history of the names, european stories of the insects, etc. Her writing style is easy to read yet there is a balance between technical/biological facts and fun easy anecdotes/stories. Its all woven together so its not like you're reading a text book but you're stil learning a lot. There are lovely drawings sprinkled in throughout the book. Overall I really enjoyed the book and have gained some neat new knowledge that otherwise I would not have encountered.Here's a quick tidbit: for the eastern katydid - the latin name translates as "That being which has wings like a camellia leaf." Neat - makes me look a little differently at the katydid too. I loved this book - highly recommeded for any nature lover.

As a young boy I was an avid collector of insects. No specialty - six legs were the only requirement. By about age ten I had exhausted the children's section of the central library and was given the rare honor to check out books from the adult section. Thick books with small print and detailed drawings of insects in their varied life stages. After recently reading Sue Hubbell's book, I wondered why I had wandered away from my early passion.

She describes chapter by chapter the fascinating life that we call bugs. Hubbell begins with Order Lepidoptera, the butterflies, among the more acceptable insects. Other chapters explore midges and gnats, ladybugs, daddy longlegs, black flies, bravo (killer) bees, water striders, silverfish, dragonflies and damselflies, gypsy moths, syrphid flies, and camel crickets. The detailed ink drawings scattered throughout the text are quite good.

Reading Broadsides is great fun. Hubbell is intelligent and has a great appreciation for life in its many forms. She introduces us to entomologists (a fascinating life form in themselves) and we share their enthusiasm for their particular study. We take part in a butterfly census in the Rockies, search for ladybug aggregations in the Sierra foothills, track katydids in the Midwest with sophisticated audio electronics, and closely observe an aging daddy longlegs. We discover how University of Kansas acquired a remarkable collection of water striders from a private collector. We learn that classifying insects is not a simple matter; insect evolution has been amazingly complicated, leading to unending debate regarding proper taxonomy. Obviously biodiversity is out of control.

More importantly, Hubbell helps us see the world through the eyes (sometimes many eyes) of individual insect species. I was fascinated by the complex and exhausting mating dance of silverfish. She may have even created a new genre: insect eroticism. (I look at silverfish differently today - but I still chase them away from my books.) Somehow Hubbell even manages to present biting black flies with some sympathy and understanding. Her personal observations - as when stooping over small puddles in early spring to admire the graceful performance of water striders - reveal a world that so often we ignore in our hurry and concern with bigger things.

This is a relaxing book to read. Each chapter largely stands alone and could be read in any sequence, but nonetheless the chapters combine to tell a fascinating story. I highly recommend Broadsides.

Hubbell is clearly pasionate about insects and their relatives, and that passion shows in this outstanding book on invertebrates. Combining personal experience with solid entomological fact, Hubbell presents to the average reader fascinating glimpses of a number of invertebrate groups, such as water striders, dragonflies, daddy longlegs, and butterflies. Hubbell shows the life stories of these groups, the role they play in nature, and the people whose lives they affect. Whether beautiful or hideous, valuable or a pest, Hubbell shows them all to be fascinating creatures. Despite that many of them are quite common, some such as black flies too common, the authors show that mysteries still exist with these creatures, how sometimes relatively basic aspects of their lives and roles in nature are mysteries.

This book is very readable and while not too technical is filled with lots of interesting and accurate facts and a wealth of personal experience on the part of the author. If you ever wanted to know more about the butterflies in your garden, the dragonflies wizzing by you over the local lake or pond, or that daddy longlegs in the attic or toolshed, this is the book for you.

My two year old likes this book. Colorful pages. I was looking for books that had some thing to do with butterflies - her current fascination. And there are indeed butterflies in this book.

We bought this book for my two year old, as Fish Wish was his favorite and we like the author's style. Another wonderful and colorful / informative book. It was especially great as an introduction to summer.

I bought the book for my granddaughter who loves bugs.
She loves the book and has her mom read it to her everyday.

My daughter is 14 months old and she absolutely loves this book. She pages through it over and over again. We have a pile of about 20 books for her to "read" and this is always the first book she grabs. She points to the bugs and we say the name and then she'll turn the page and continue. She loves the bright color pages. I just wish it came in board book version, because she's wearing out the pages. She is just one, so she's a little rough on paper pages. ;) I love the page in the back that teaches you about the insects.

If you are a parent of a younger child looking for an educational book on bugs you should check out "Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!" by Bob Barner. When finding a book for very young children there are many things to look at, such as the use of bright colors to catch their attention, thick pages that won't tear easily, and large, easy-to-read typeface. "Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!" accomplishes all of these.
When it comes to the pictures, he has the bright colors and uses collages to add texture and realism to the illustrations. He uses pictures that are more like cartoons than reality so the kids will not be afraid of the featured insects. He puts these pictures on thick paper that will not tear easily so the kids don't destroy the book too quickly. At the end of the book there is a "Bug-O-Meter" that can help kids identify bugs and possibly help them learn to use tables and graphs. He also tells the reader little things about the different bugs to help kids learn the differences between the featured "bugs".
The way the author uses words is engrossing, with the words scrolling across the pages, leading the reader through the illustrations. The sparse wording may help children learn to spell. The wording is also contrasting to the colors of the illustrations and creates a dimension of words that can be taken apart from the illustrations. We reccommend it to parents of young toddlers.

Great pictures and information in an easy to carry guide. The author is worth listening too, if you get an opportunity.

This is really a great little book on a specialized but interesting area of insect identification. Although considered primitive insects (since they undergo incomplete metamorphosis) dragonflies are just cool because they're so big and conspicuous and such strong fliers, and can maneuver at lightning speed, almost like hummingbirds. During the Carboniferous period or Coal Age 340 million years ago, there were dragonflies with 3 foot wingspans, according to the fossil evidence.

They also know how to "play the game." I've watched them many times patrolling the edge of ponds since they know that's "where the action is," during their hunts for prey.

This is an excellent book on indentifying these important insects. If I remember right, 30 or 40 species get covered, which is a good number, and the photos and descriptions are excellent. I found it an excellent guide to learn from and to improve my knowledge of this area, my main interest being in botany, and in identifying flowers, trees, and fungi. This is the best book I've seen on this specialized topic.

As a beginner in the study of these fascinating and beautiful creatures, I found this book clear, concise, and easy to understand and use. The text is simple and complete, and the illustrations are excellent. The small size of the volume makes it fit easily into your pocket for quick reference. Anyone interested in dragonflies will find the book an absolute MUST!

This is really nice field guide to have. The photographs are great. Each entry is succint and includes one or two photographs together with a bold line the length of the dragonfly and printed in one of the dominant colors of the dragonfly. There is a checklist in the back so that you can keep track of what you see, and the introductory information in the front of the book is well-written. Though I bought this book for myself, I think that it also would make a great field guide for a child since the book is small, easy to use, and the photos are clear and attractive. It is well worth the price.

Common Dragonflies of California is an uncommon book. Full of sound advice and chock full of excellent color photos, this book will be of great interest to any California nature lover. I am the kind of person who loves to know the name of every tree, shrub, flower, reptile, bird and fish that I see. Now that I have this little jewel, I'm going to learn how to identify the dragonflies too. The more we learn about nature, the more enjoyment we get from it. I highly recommend this fine book! I expect it would make a great present too, for the right person. Tom Ogren, author of Allergy-Free Gardening

Giff did a great job on his dragonfly book! It's easy to read and to use!
I never realized that there were so many different kind of dragonflies!!!

Giff Beaton's book is comprehensive, understandable, and also beautiful. Buy this book if you are not interested in the subject, you will be when you read it.

This book sets new standards for odonate field guides. In addition to covering the Southeast this book is also useful for people living in the mid-atlantic states. Photographs are excellant.

Everything I wanted is in this book: beautiful photos, identification tips, larva information, possible locations, flight dates, and much more.

If you have even the slightest interest in odonates, you should buy this reference.

I have recently purchased this book and I am extremely happy with it. It contains a great deal of useful information and I actually found the quick key inside useful. I admit that am not very familiar with odonates, but this book has helped me i.d. a good portion of the dragonflies I have in my collection and has really encouraged me to pay more attention to them on my outdoor excursions.
Highly recommend this guide!

The story is lovely, and the facts are true to science. A very nice combination.

Farfallina and Marcel is a true story of friendship. It teaches us that even through natural changes in life we can remain friends. This is a favorite story of my 4 year old son who likes to hear it over and over again. The water color pictures are beautiful and add a soft warm feeling to the book. I believe it's message is timeless and we will enjoy reading it to our children for years to come.

This wonderful, gentle story is a perfect end to a busy day. Our two ball-of-energy boys gladly climb into our laps at bedtime for another rereading of "Farfallina and Marcel." It's one of my husband's favorite bedtime stories to read aloud, and it always gives us all a warm, snuggly feeling (very conducive to quickly falling asleep!). This tale of enduring friendship and loyalty is enhanced by Keller's precise, yet accessible prose and the quiet beauty of her watercolor illustrations. Everyone from Papa to our kitties enjoys curling up on the bed together for this one.

I came across this gentle book while shopping for gifts for my daughter's 6th birthday. This is a book about friendship and that is a very important subject to kindergarteners. I felt the author approached the subject in a beautiful and touching way, showing how friendship can endure through the many changes that life will bring. I can't wait to read the book to my daughter. I plan on buying more copies to give to my friends, too.

Holly Keller's story of growing up and changing is a fantastic story wrapped in beautiful watercolor illustrations. She weaves the story of everlasting friendship that we all long for and cherish in a charming and simple way. Keller's accomplishments include more than 30 books that she has written with "as many illustrated (that were) written by other people." It's easy to see why she has accomplished so much. I love this book.
Keller's story opens with little Farfallina, a caterpillar, munching on a leaf during a gentle spring rain. Her munching disturbs a handsome gosling that quickly befriends the caterpillar. Despite the fact that they make an unlikely pair, they become the warmest of friends. Their friendship is rocked by separation however when one day Farfallina must rest. For weeks she is gone and Marcel realizes that he must grow up without her. A happy reunion finds them still fast friends despite the growth and change each has had to face.
The illustrations in this book are fantastic. Kellers use of watercolors, is alive with bold vibrant colors that capture the attention of any reader. Her pictures are incredibly cute and resemble the sweet friendship Marcel and Farfallina share. Keller's illustrations encourage readers to peruse each page liesurely. I have always loved finding hidden pictures, and although Keller does not necessarily intend this, children can look for Farfallina's cocoon in the tree tops or note the changes in Marcel's feathers. Without the pictures, the story wouldn't be the same.
I look forward to sharing this book with little ones during story time at the public library. Allowing the children the opportunity to visualize the colorful pictures as this heartwarming story is told will truly be a pleasure. I hope that they enjoy the story as much as I have. I've added it to my wish list and look forward to giving a second copy to my nieces.

Some peopel specialise in one area of insect study and tiger beetles area popular choice. This book gives area information etc, somewhat like a bird book. Now you can start hunting for yourself.

A wonderful guide with at least one picture of each beetle!! I haven't seen a comprehensive photographic fieldguide to tiger beetles as nice as this one. Definately worth the price!

This is a very good book to help with the identification of tiger beetles. I use the information presented in other chapters every day in my pursuit of tiger beetles.

As a 4-H entomology leader it was pretty frustrating not being able to help my kids find what kind of tiger beetle they found. Unless we got lucky, species IDs were almost impossible without a trip to the University of Michigan libraries. With Pearson's work, I no longer have those problems. Although scientific in its presentation, it's still accessible enough for my 10-year-olds to figure and use. Beautiful scale photos and illustrations. Thanks !

As an entomologist, I have seen and used many a field guide. This guide is one of the best. Color plates are not cluttered, and each has a scale bar. Distribution maps are crisp and easy to understand. Keys are excellent, with plenty of illustrations. Checklist is included, and the sections on ecology/behavior and conservation are well done. This is a must-buy for any Cicindelid enthusiast!

I purchased this book for the photography but found the information contained within quite informative. Entomology is a hobby. One I get little time to indulge in. This book is an excellent addition to anyone's library on these beautiful insects.

This is one of the most gorgeous books I own. I look at these pictures, and I think that human beings could not dream up jewelry that touches the beauty of these creatures. It is utterly unbelievable! Every time I page through this book my jaw is open in disbelief. They are so breathtaking they almost bring tears to my eyes. Okay. Confession time. They HAVE brought tears to my eyes.

The photographs by Lisa Watson are the first thing to catch your eye about this beautifully produced book. The majority are of museum specimens, which oddly is what makes the pictures so attractive: we're used to seeing high quality pictures of wildlife, but the displays here juxtapose many different beetles and have more impact than wildlife shots would.

The pictures are beautiful but the text is high-quality too. The authors start by reciting some statistics on the number of beetle species. Linnaeus, two hundred and fifty years ago, described 654 species; and Fabricius added another 4,112 species between 1775 and 1801. By 1876 Gemminger and von Harold's catalog contained nearly 77,000 species; and when Junk and Schenkling's catalogue was completed, in 1940, it listed nearly 221,500 species. It's now estimated that there are 350,000 described beetle species. However, recent work by Terry Erwin, extrapolating from detailed studies of a small area, suggests that there are more than eight *million* species of beetle just in the tropics!

The rest of the book is a fairly detailed survey of beetles in all their aspects. The authors are enthusiasts as well as experts, and it shows in their writing, which is crisp, clear and engaging. They cover beetle anatomy, fossilized beetles, habitats and niches, the beetle life cycle, and mimicry. There is also substantial coverage of beetles and humans: naming, appearance in mythology, use as jewels (really!), a discussion of pest control, and use in education. The book has more scientific depth than is usual for a coffee table book, without sacrificing interest value.

There is a website that appears to be maintained by one of the authors (Evans) that contains some material from the book; I recommend you take a look if you are hesitating about buying this. I found it by searching for the book title using a standard search engine; when I looked it was on the Lorquin Entomological Society's website, but it may have moved.

Recommended.

The website for this book and the general topic is:
http://www.fond4beetles.com

If someone said, "Ok, you're being sent to a colony on Jupiter's second moon and you only get to bring one picture book with you," this would be it. It is a stunning book. One reviewer mentioned being moved to tears, and it really is no joke. The photos of the beetles are gorgeous and the text is really well written.

People generally fear insects, regard them as pests, or don't bother thinking about them at all. Arthur Evans gives weight to what is frequently overlooked. Taking one order, Coleoptera (beetles), he uses it as a means to discuss the big picture on Earth--balance and biodiversity. Evans manages all of this with a sense of reverence and even spirituality that complements the statistics and hard data:

"...But viewing beetles simply as machines, without understanding their role in the ecosystem, is a narrow perspective that reflects intellectual, spatial, and temporal limitations. As the world's ecosystems continue to shrink in the wake of human exploitation--a direct result of our ever-burgeoning population--our approach to all the sciences must continue to evolve from an analysis of parts to a necessarily more holistic approach. We must learn to view beetles not as machines, but as conduits of energy flowing through the entire biosphere."

I'd always been fascinated by insects, but this book really honed my interest and since I bought it, it has inspired me to learn more about them and share what I've learned. I even had the great luck of meeting a weevil expert. Beetles are simply incredible little animals and I'm really glad that Evans has written a book about them that is so accessible and lovely.