Insectpedia: A Brief Compendium of Insect Lore

by Eric R. Eaton, Amy Jean Porter (Illustrations)

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 real cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Biology, Nature

200 pages, Hardcover

Published May 3, 2022

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute little intro to insects (kind of--it's more of a collection of fun facts); I can't fully judge it on its entomological merits since I'm not an expert, but I very much enjoyed reading it

[Nettle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learnt that male jewel beetles like beer as much as I do. Such a fun read and has lots of character. I LOVE BUGS!!!

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Brian Hutzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pedia books from Princeton Press are a convenient size, sturdily put together, and fun to read. They are not field guides, nor are they thorough introductions to their subjects. Rather, they are short alphabetized entries of fun facts. I’ve read three of the series now, and while I zipped through them fairly quickly—jumping around in them as I went—they will remain on my shelves for future reference. If you need a conversation starter at your next party, this book provides some helpful suggestions: Exploding ants, beetles that squirt liquid near the boiling pint of water, or sauteed cicadas might be just the topic you are looking for!

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent encyclopedia of entomology. It's not trying to be the end-all be-all encyclopedia, but it hits all the main aspects of the science, and several interesting aspects that aren't talked about much. Dr. Eaton uses a friendly, laid-back approachable voice that is conversation in nature, making the reading more entertaining and it flows nicely. It's not dry facts. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in insects, even if their interest is just in passing.

[sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was SUPER interesting and informative!! I really loved the little doodles of some of the insects too, towards the end i started to kind of get bored and just get it over with. But thats just because i have been reading a lot of non fiction too, its a great book for anyone wanting to get into entomology!🥰🐛🦋

[Owen Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and informative book with beautiful illustrations.

My only issue really is that more explanations about, for example, the different species mentioned would have helped to understand and visualise the topics being discussed.

However, this book wasn't meant to be an in-depth dissection and explanation. It is meant to be a helpful guide and an introduction to insects.

[Audrey Sauble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a great collection of science/entomology terms, with fun snippets of information about notable scientists and unusual species. I really enjoyed reading it and plan to come back to it again as a reference tool in the future.

[Zach DuFran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful collection of information about insects. I really enjoyed it from cover-to-cover. It includes some definitions, some historical accounts, and tons of interesting ecological interactions. I am fascinated by all of nature's interconnectedness so this book was right up my alley!

[Calico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty enjoyable! I didn't enjoy the format at first, but have warmed up to it considerably over the course of the book. The author has a lighter narration style that helps offset the usual heaviness of nonfiction

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was able to read it on a flight from Chicago to San Jose. Short and sometimes humourous stories about insects, entomologists and other insect related tidbits.

[Naif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never really been interested in bugs before reading this, but this has sparked my curiosity!

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative with nice images