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Weird Insects
This book provides a sneak peak into the diverse and often hidden world of nature's strangest insects. Insects account for more than half of the more than 17,000,000 named species of living things. This fascinating book reveals a rare and close up look at the odd beauty of some of the strangest of these tiny creatures. Despite their large numbers, the world of these particularly weird insects exists largely hidden from our view. Included in the book are some of the most interesting insects from North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Weird Insects
The book will appeal to middle school students exploring topic ideas; younger students interested in wildlife and advanced readers who enjoy picture books.
The book will appeal to middle school students exploring topic ideas; younger students interested in wildlife and advanced readers who enjoy picture books.
64 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 20, 2026
I know this book is probably aimed at kids but even so it’s very disappointing. There are sooooo many wild and weird insects out there and while most mentioned are interesting, they’re almost all super super boring and not at all weird in any way.
Like if I was a child based on the cover I would have been crushed by the actual content.
there are soooo many really cool insects with weird body forms or life cycles they could have featured, and when they do pick cool animals (like mantids) they literally picked the most boring one they could! When there are soooo many cool ones. there are catapillars that look like poison berries ! moths that look like bird poop! flies that decapitate ants!
It’s also disappointing that they don’t even tell you the order the insects belong to…. Or like the first bug— why does it look like that ??? Maybe tell us?? Even the organization makes no sense.
beginning to wonder if this is more like “kind of interesting insects you can own as pets” rather than actual weird insects. Feels like something the publisher was like “hey we have all these insect images we need to use do something with them” and this dude was like uh sure and then they stuck that bug on the cover knowing it would sell.
like that’s part of why it pisses me off bc it feels like a bait and switch
about 99.9% sure the author isn’t an entomologist or even a scientist and it shows, big time.
I would advise you skip this one. i suspect the fly book is ACTUALLY about some weird insects, so i’ll read that as soon as i can grab my copy from our mailbox
Like if I was a child based on the cover I would have been crushed by the actual content.
there are soooo many really cool insects with weird body forms or life cycles they could have featured, and when they do pick cool animals (like mantids) they literally picked the most boring one they could! When there are soooo many cool ones. there are catapillars that look like poison berries ! moths that look like bird poop! flies that decapitate ants!
It’s also disappointing that they don’t even tell you the order the insects belong to…. Or like the first bug— why does it look like that ??? Maybe tell us?? Even the organization makes no sense.
beginning to wonder if this is more like “kind of interesting insects you can own as pets” rather than actual weird insects. Feels like something the publisher was like “hey we have all these insect images we need to use do something with them” and this dude was like uh sure and then they stuck that bug on the cover knowing it would sell.
like that’s part of why it pisses me off bc it feels like a bait and switch
about 99.9% sure the author isn’t an entomologist or even a scientist and it shows, big time.
I would advise you skip this one. i suspect the fly book is ACTUALLY about some weird insects, so i’ll read that as soon as i can grab my copy from our mailbox
February 2, 2019
4.5 - Excellent and clear photos, good collection of interesting facts. My only wish is that it would have had appropriate images to accompany descriptions of how the fe/male/larvae look starkly different from whichever one is pictured. I suppose the single photos were an attempt to stick to the integrity of the one-photo format for each species mentioned. Definitely could pore over this museum of the tiny over and over again.
May 30, 2019
A good class resource for our insect unit!
January 14, 2014
Ok. The book says that some people keep the little guy (8 inches long) on the cover as pets. I'll pass on that. But seriously, this was a pretty awesome book. The photography was insanely close-up; to the swollen thighs of the Thick-legged Flower Beetle to the male genitalia of the Scorpionfly. Ouch! You have to see that one. The markings and colors of these insects are beautiful and come in handy to keep predators at bay.There are polka dots, eyes, hot pink and shiny rainbows, like the Rainbow Shield Bug; one of my personal favorites. Some of these bugs pack a punch. Some are stingers, prickers, and some just plain stinky. The insects names are cool too. The Giraffe-Necked Weevil get their name from their extended neck. It is crazy long. The Violin Beetle looks like? You guessed it. A violin. The Bulldog ant is crazy like a bulldog. The Red Velvet Ant tastes like Red Velvet cake. jk. It has furry red hair and quite pretty. Anyway, enough said. For you budding entomologists out there this is the book for you. Now go away. You're bugging me.
PS:
If you want to see the thunder thighs of the thick-legged flower beetle enlarge the picture on my profile.
PS:
If you want to see the thunder thighs of the thick-legged flower beetle enlarge the picture on my profile.
March 29, 2014
Weird insects will amaze anyone remotely interested in insects. The book provides a magnifying glass look at insects from around the world. Each page is filled with a stunning and vibrant photo against a white page. Each page also lists insects’ common and scientific name as well as interesting facts about the insects’ characteristics and behavior. Budding naturalists will pore over the pictures and information. Insectaphobes beware.
Katie Z. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
January 24, 2014
The amazing photos make this look like a fantasy beastiary (a book of imaginary creatures), but these are real bugs. Real close-up pictures of real bugs in their six-legged, spiny, mandibled, poison-spiked glory. How could these have not come out of someone's twisted imagination? Or at least outer space?
For more great nonfiction for elementary-aged guys, see: http://www.talestoldtall.com/B4BENFSN...
For more great nonfiction for elementary-aged guys, see: http://www.talestoldtall.com/B4BENFSN...
May 9, 2014
Absolutely amazing up-close and in your face photographs of a variety of insects from around the world. Set against a white background, with just a paragraph of info, the details really stand out. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing the scale and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the order of the insects. There are no sources nor are there suggestions for further reading, so not useful for report writers but your browsers will love it. Wow, these photos are amazing.
September 5, 2015
Beautifully done paperback book, colors provided by nature are enchanting and the little insects are wonderfully crafted. I learned many things I didn't know. About an hour of reading but worthy of many return visits for seeing a group of little beings that share earth with us while often going unnoticed.
January 22, 2014
I loved the large, full colored images of the insects and found the small paragraph of information on each insect interesting. This book does a good job of showing interesting insects that don't normally appear in your regular insect books.
December 28, 2013
Stunning photography! This is a very interesting and quick read about a lot of creepy crawlies throughout the world. The format is fabulous - the use of white backgrounds really shows off the insect.
February 24, 2014
Beautiful photos! I wish there was some sense of scale.
March 15, 2016
My son recently became fascinated with insects, and there are some fascinating insects in this book. And some really great, detailed, close-up photos of those insects, too.
December 13, 2013
Beautifully photographed buggies from around the world!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews