The Butterflies of Costa Rica and Their Natural History, Vol. II: Riodinidae Review

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(More customer reviews)This hefty book is not a book you would like to drag along in you daypack (I tried, so I know). Yet, you will need it around (so, in your lodge or tent) when you're walking the rainforests and trying to make out what you've seen. It gives a clear description, added to clear drawings, of all the butterflies in the described families. That leads me to the only drawback: it's "just" a number of famlies described here, so the title is somewhat misleading. I'm eagerly awaiting the follow-up with the rest of the Lepidoptera, hoping that they will be covered in a similar way.

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The Anatomy of Insects & Spiders: Over 600 Exquisite Forms Review

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(More customer reviews)The Anatomy of Insects admitedly only scratches the surface of entomology, but what it covers is done in exquisite detail.The book begins with a primer on insect anatomy before broadly covering the taxonomy of the major insect orders of beatles, wasps (including bees and ants) termites (including dragonflies and mayflies), butterflies, moths, fleas (and flies), grasshoppers (and crickets), stick insects (including mantises and cockroaches), and spiders.
There is little specific information about each species, but plenty of general information about the order, and enough detail to give the lay reader (such as myself) a good "feel" for the critters.However, the diagrams and plates of the insects are what drew me to the book.
Many of the pictures are from Victorian era prints, some are more recent etchings, but all are remarkable and beautiful in their own right.(I know, who would have thought of "bugs" as beautiful?)It really is an interesting read, with an excellent biliography for further reading if a specific order or genus strikes your fancy; but the depiction of theses small animals is what makes this book such a treasure.

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The gossamer wings of a dragonfly, the scarlet carapace of the lady beetle, the spectacular shape of the hawkmoth. The insect world teems with exotic forms and inspired renowned devotion in illustrators of the late 19th century. In a volume as jewel-like as its subject, The Anatomy of Insects & Spiders presents page after page of select engravings, woodcuts, and drawings from the Victorian era, the golden age of insect illustration. Meticulously rendered, they are paired with observations from early naturalists. The notes may describe the classification of the insect, how its body is constructed, its behavior and preferences, or its habitat. Arranged by insect type and covering all the families from bees and moths to ants and flies, The Anatomy of Insects & Spiders reveals detail that is normally seen only under a microscope. A natural for admirers of insect society, this charming volume is both a distinctive introduction and lively armchair companion.

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An Obsession With Butterflies: Our Long Love Affair with a Singular Insect Review

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(More customer reviews)I thoroughly loved this book - it had interesting butterfly information, stories from the early times of butterfly collecting, and other great insights.It usually takes me awhile to read books due to usually being exhausted after work and only getting through a few pages per night but this one I just couldn't put down.I admit it, I do have an obsession with butterflies, but that goes for all of nature and the gifts of mother earth - so the subject matter was right up my alley.It gives good history and good interesting facts about butterflies.Loved it!

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Learning About and Living With Insects of the Southwest: How to Identify Helpful, Harmful and Venomous Insects Review

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(More customer reviews)the book is just what i wanted......information was a littleshort, but covered the basics.the only thing that could have made it better would be to have had actual pictures of the real species.it wasn't disappointing at all!

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Insects of the Southwest describes over 120 of the most common bugs and "creepy crawlies" you're likely to share your house or yard with from day to day.
Provides interesting and important facts and historical information on the many fascinating insects and arthropods that inhabit the Southwest-the region ranging from Southern California through Arizona to Central Texas, and north into Utah, Colorado and Nevada.
Introduces both adults and children to the wonders of observation-while never needing to go more than a few yards from home. Easy-to-read and understand.
Drawings and text help you learn about and identify these tiny creatures and know the difference between some of the fearsome-looking-but-harmless bugs and those that are venomous. Plus, household "pets and pests" and which bugs are which.
Learn about the Africanized "killer" bee spiders and the real pests they eat, the many varieties of cockroaches, crop pests and "flashy bugs" found in the desert and mountains.
Floyd Werner, Ph.D. and Carl Olson, M.S., entomologists at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, share their affection for the diversity and necessity of all creatures. They'll arm us with a fuller knowledge to help us appreciate and respect the role insects play as the recyclers in nature and even dispell some of the fears and misconceptions many of us have about the earth's most numerous inhabitants.

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Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders Review

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(More customer reviews)The Firefly Encyclopedia series are uniformly excellent.There are several current volumes (Insects & Spiders, Reptiles & Amphibians, and Birds).With luck additional volumes will be added (I'd be especially keen to see one on fishes).The series picks up the tradition started with the David Macdonald's "Encyclopedia of Mammals" by having numerous experts contribute information about the organisms they study.Thus, each species or group of organisms is described by the scientists who know them best.The result is a truly amazing compilation of information about each type of organism.

The Insects and Spiders volume contains information from 23 separate contributors about all types of insects and spider-like creatures.Contents include:

Overview of Arthropods:6 pages
Millipedes and Centipedes:6 pages
Insects, general information:14 pages
Separate sections on (sections without indicated page lengths usually 2-3 pages long):Bristletails, Mayflies, Dragonflies & Damselfies, Cockroaches (4 pages), Termites, Mantids (4 pages), Earwigs, Stoneflies, Crickets & Grasshoppers (12 pages), Leaf & Stick Insects, Booklice and Webspinners, Zorapterans & Thrips, Parasitic Lice, Bugs (16 pages), Snakewings & Alderflies, Lacewings, Beetles (16 pages), Scorpionflies, Fleas, Flies (16 pages), Caddisflies, Butterflies & Moths (24 pages), Wasps & Ants & Bees (24 pages)
Arachnids, general information:4 pages
Spiders:14 pages
Mites & Ticks: 6 pages
Scorpions & other Arachnids:4 pages

The book is lavishly illustrated.There are tons of amazing photographs and lots of beautifully rendered drawings.The text is well written and generally easy to follow.Some sections are fairly technical (I have a Ph.D. in Biology and got lost a few times), but probably 90% or more should be accessible to anyone. I strongly recommend this book for biologists, naturalists, and people interested in wildlife.It would make an excellent gift for a young person (probably junior high +) who likes animals.

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Angels & Insects: Two Novellas Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me explain my 4 stars: I would have liked to give a 5-Star for "Morpho Eugenia" and a 3-Star for "Conjugal Angel." All the reviews here are correct in that A.S. Byatt is an amazing writer thoroughly versed in Victorian England. Her observation is keen and her prose style is assured. I can't really name another author besides Byatt who manages to weave narrative and intellectual discussion so seamlessly.The first of the two novellas, "Morpho Eugenia," is immediately appealing. I was hooked by the story very quickly through lush descriptions and how Byatt deftly sets up the conflict and character dynamics. I enjoyed "Conjugal Angel" much less. This one demands much more on the readers, especially if they are not familiar with Tennyson and Hallam. Even if you're a pro in Victorian poetry, you may find (as I did) the opening confusing in setting up the premise of the drama and introducing characters. The prose seems discursive and lacking in focus from time to time--very uneven. But you can't beat the nice surprise ending, almost conventional and (dare I use the word?) sentimental, Byatt's erudition notwithstanding. :-)

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