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Bugwatching: The Art, Joy, and Importance of Observing Insects
Discover the pleasures of watching insects with this fun, informative, and marvelously illustrated how-to guide
Insects are the most abundant wildlife on the planet—but also the least observed. This incisive field companion highlights the basic tools for watching insects with all of our senses, covers some best habitats and circumstances for seeing the most diversity, and shares tips for attracting desirable insects to your yard and garden. With wonderful illustrations by Samantha Gallagher, Bugwatching explains why this rewarding activity is for everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender identity, level of affluence, ability, or disability. When you become a bugwatcher, you join a community of supportive and energetic people. The potential for personal and scientific discovery is virtually limitless.
Enables you to better appreciate and understand insects and improve your success rate in finding, watching, and identifying themIncludes a comprehensive treatment of insect behaviors that is invaluable for beginnersDiscusses social bugwatching and participation in community science projectsCovers advanced topics such as rearing insects and using keys to identify themExplains how watching insects can fill gaps in our knowledge about their economic impacts and the growing decline in insect diversity and abundancePromotes safety, accessibility, and inclusion as vital aspects of watching insectsAn essential guide for seasoned bugwatchers and newcomers to the community
Insects are the most abundant wildlife on the planet—but also the least observed. This incisive field companion highlights the basic tools for watching insects with all of our senses, covers some best habitats and circumstances for seeing the most diversity, and shares tips for attracting desirable insects to your yard and garden. With wonderful illustrations by Samantha Gallagher, Bugwatching explains why this rewarding activity is for everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender identity, level of affluence, ability, or disability. When you become a bugwatcher, you join a community of supportive and energetic people. The potential for personal and scientific discovery is virtually limitless.
Enables you to better appreciate and understand insects and improve your success rate in finding, watching, and identifying themIncludes a comprehensive treatment of insect behaviors that is invaluable for beginnersDiscusses social bugwatching and participation in community science projectsCovers advanced topics such as rearing insects and using keys to identify themExplains how watching insects can fill gaps in our knowledge about their economic impacts and the growing decline in insect diversity and abundancePromotes safety, accessibility, and inclusion as vital aspects of watching insectsAn essential guide for seasoned bugwatchers and newcomers to the community
- GenresNature
192 pages, Paperback
Published July 22, 2025
6 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 22, 2026
There are plenty of books and programmes that introduce birdwatching, but few (or none) on bugwatching, and this books helps to fill that gap. An introduction to bugwatching, or observing insects (or arthropods, in general), it aims to introduce the reader to the various bugs that can be found and how to learn to appreciate them.
The book starts with how to watch bugs safely; most bugs are harmless to people, but some (like wasps and caterpillars) can inflict pain for defence, so the usual rule is to observe (or listen), but not to touch or disturb bugs too much. The ethics of bugwatch is also covered, like being respectful of people and property. Field guides and equipment for bugwatching is also covered, followed by ways to record observations.
Finding bugs is covered next, covering seasons and the time when various insects can be found and are active. Areas for observing insects are also covered, including urban areas and even indoors. Ways of attracting insects, from putting out bait, employing traps to putting up lights are also presented, which should be done in an ethical manner.
Identifying insects is covered next, showing various ways to distinguish between different insects and the various life stages of insects. But the author stresses that proper identification can be difficult, even for experts.
Besides observing bugs, their behaviour can also be observed: courtship, mating, parental care, grooming, sleeping, mass emergence, defenses and so on can be fascinating to see. Bugwatching can also be a social activity, either on-line or in actual groups that form for workshops or nature festivals.
Advanced bugwatching is then provided, for those who wish to contribute to research by help to collect and identify insects. Other ways, like volunteering for projects and donations are also covered.
In summary, the book provides a guide to observing more the nature around you. The book is mainly aimed at a North American audience, but some of the guidelines and proposals are general enough to apply to other parts of the world.
The book starts with how to watch bugs safely; most bugs are harmless to people, but some (like wasps and caterpillars) can inflict pain for defence, so the usual rule is to observe (or listen), but not to touch or disturb bugs too much. The ethics of bugwatch is also covered, like being respectful of people and property. Field guides and equipment for bugwatching is also covered, followed by ways to record observations.
Finding bugs is covered next, covering seasons and the time when various insects can be found and are active. Areas for observing insects are also covered, including urban areas and even indoors. Ways of attracting insects, from putting out bait, employing traps to putting up lights are also presented, which should be done in an ethical manner.
Identifying insects is covered next, showing various ways to distinguish between different insects and the various life stages of insects. But the author stresses that proper identification can be difficult, even for experts.
Besides observing bugs, their behaviour can also be observed: courtship, mating, parental care, grooming, sleeping, mass emergence, defenses and so on can be fascinating to see. Bugwatching can also be a social activity, either on-line or in actual groups that form for workshops or nature festivals.
Advanced bugwatching is then provided, for those who wish to contribute to research by help to collect and identify insects. Other ways, like volunteering for projects and donations are also covered.
In summary, the book provides a guide to observing more the nature around you. The book is mainly aimed at a North American audience, but some of the guidelines and proposals are general enough to apply to other parts of the world.
September 10, 2025
This book is a must-read for anyone that is the least bit interested in insects, or loves someone that is. There are so many helpful tips in this book that will make you a better observer and learn how to contribute to conservation and global knowledge.
February 10, 2026
The author (Eric Eaton) coined and popularized the term "bugwatching" to describe the act, art, and joy of observing, identifying, and studying insects. He compares it to birdwatching. But while birdwatchers are called birders, Eaton doesn't say whether bugwatchers should be called buggers. But he does provide a full survey of the practice of bugwatching--including how to watch insects, find them, identify them, the tools you need, useful resources, insect behaviors, and everything else buggy. And it is a fascinating world. We humans are so bland, and our diversity can hardly even be called that, while insects are fantastically diverse in every respect. Most people typically grow up with the impression that insects are disgusting, icky, filthy things to be avoided. Eaton teaches us to embrace them.
There's another world, probably more amazing and bizarre than anything we might find in the far reaches of the universe, and it's right in our backyard. Yet the common person knows so little of this world. We would do well to follow Eaton's advice offered in the last two sentences of this book: "Go forth, now. Walk slowly, look closely, and be curious."
There's another world, probably more amazing and bizarre than anything we might find in the far reaches of the universe, and it's right in our backyard. Yet the common person knows so little of this world. We would do well to follow Eaton's advice offered in the last two sentences of this book: "Go forth, now. Walk slowly, look closely, and be curious."
July 27, 2025
I'm so glad I bought this book! I'm fascinated by insects, spiders, and other 'bugs.' I enjoy taking a close look at the critters I encounter, and this book has inspired me to become more purposeful in my insect watching. It's packed with quite practical ways to do that, including not just where to look but when and how. The book has great suggestions for bugwatching tools. I especially enjoyed reading the first-person accounts by notable bugwatchers whose blogs and websites I am now following. This book has a wonderful balance of text, photos, and terrific illustrations. It's a valuable tool for the inquisitive insect watcher. It's a fun read, too!
December 20, 2025
A thorough introduction to bug watching with info about where and how to get started, as well as launching to look for in bug behavior and identification. As one of the other reviews mention, the bugs shown are largely North American, but the basic principles explained here would apply anywhere.
October 6, 2025
Very US-centric so perhaps not the worth the outlay for readers outside of North America
October 31, 2025
This is a wonderful little book about insects and how to explore the world around us for them! Easy to read with helpful tips as well
December 11, 2025
Informative and kind
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March 7, 2026Good overview of bugwatching, how to do it, what to look for, but way too much detail for me. Skimmed through the latter 2/3 of it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews