The Illustrated World Encyclopedia of Insects: A Natural History and Identification Guide to Beetles, Flies, Bees, wasps, Springtails, Mayflies, Stoneflies, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Cockroaches, Mantes, Earwigs, Stick and Leaf Insects, Bristletails, Dipteran, Crickets, Bugs, Grasshoppers, Fleas, Spid

This beautifully illustrated book provides an overview of the world of insects. Beginning with a look at the evolution of the insect family the introduction looks at every aspect of insect life including their basic anatomy, their fascinating life cycles, and their social organization within colonies and nests. How insects jump, leap and fly, the methods by which they defend themselves and their colonies from attack, and the methods by which they eat, including sucking, biting, chewing, grinding, and filter feeding are all included. Without insect life human activity would cease. An in-depth look at each of the orders that makes up the insect group, with examples of many common species, completes the front section of the book. The encyclopedia of insect species is organized according to geographical region adn then by insect order. Every insect order is included, from the tiniest opaque wingless creature to the largest and most spectacular beetle. The most common species from each are included, and many are illustrated with beautifully detailed watercolours. Each entry profiles the physical traits and characteristics of the different creatures. Identification details are provided for each such as body colour and segmentation, insect shape and size, a description of the habitat where each can be found and the time of year, if appropriate.

• A wide-ranging, expert identification guide to every order of the insect world including fleas, beetles, cockroaches and crickets, as well as many less visible creatures

• Identification details are provided for more than 650 insect species, and many are illustrated with specially commissioned watercolours

• Includes an in-depth look at insect defence mechanisms such as camouflage, mimicry, hissing, bites and stings, and colouration that suggests danger

• Each stage of the insect life cycle is described with illustrations depicting different development phases

• 1000 spectacular photographs and anatomically correct watercolours provide a fascinating visual record of the insect world

Martin Walters is a writer, editor and naturalist. He studied Zoology at OxfordUniversity, and worked for several years at Biological Sciences Editor at Cambridge University Press, where he was responsible for developing the botany, ecology and natural history lists, before becoming a freelance editor and writer. He is a keen field naturalist, with a special interest in botany, birds, habitats and conservation. Martin has published regularly, including field guides to birds and flowers and nature reference books, and he collaborates with the People and Plants Initiative of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), organising their publications. He has also translated and adapted natural history books, including books on birds and botany, and contributed much of the text on natural habitats to the popular reference books Earth and Plant (Dorking Kindersley).