Insectpedia
A Brief Compendium of Insect Lore
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- $19.99
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
A fun and fact-filled A–Z treasury for the insect lover in all of us
Insectpedia introduces you to the wonders of the insect world while inviting you to make discoveries of your own. Featuring dozens of entries on topics ranging from murder hornets and the “insect apocalypse” to pioneering entomologists such as Margaret James Strickland Collins and Douglas Tallamy, this beautifully illustrated, pocket-friendly encyclopedia dispels many common myths about insects while offering new perspectives on the vital relationships we share with these incredible creatures.
This entertaining collection celebrates the long and storied history of entomology, highlights our dependence on insects for food and ecosystem services, and explains the meaning behind various entomological terms. With Eric Eaton as your guide, you will circle the globe in search of African Toktokkies and Australian beer bottle beetles, and witness the peculiar spectacle of cricket fighting in Asia. Profiles of influential figures in entomology provide insights into the curious minds that animate this extraordinarily broad field of scientific inquiry, while the book’s portable size makes it the perfect travel companion no matter where your own entomological adventures may lead you.
With captivating illustrations by Amy Jean Porter, Insectpedia is an engaging blend of insect facts and folklore that will inspire anyone who delights in the marvels of nature.
Features a cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"It is impossible to have even a passing interest in the insect world and ever be bored," writes naturalist Eaton (Wasps) in this eclectic roundup of bug miscellany. Hoping to "ignite an appreciation of insects and those who study them," Eaton offers more than a hundred entries covering evolutionary patterns, historical vignettes, entomologist bios, ecological concerns, and other matters of insectoid interest. Some findings are rather bizarre: tiny larvae of beaded lacewings, for example, search for termites and kill them via "fatal flatulence," while male western Australian jewel beetles (also known as beer bottle beetles) were once so enamored with discarded bottles of beer "that had the same texture and patterns of reflected light as a female beetle" that they often died of exhaustion and dehydration after attempting to mate endlessly with bottles. (The species was saved after breweries changed their bottles.) Eaton's writing is crisp, informative, and at times humorous, and he does a great job of demonstrating insects' important role on the planet, as they pollinate plants, control pests, and serve as a food source for fish and wildlife. This is worth a look for budding entomologists.
