With an astounding 3.5 million species occupying virtually every habitat on Earth, insects are one of the most diverse groups of animals on the planet, from the humble bee to the agile praying mantis. Taking you inside the extraordinary world of insects, The Complete Insect explores all aspects of the natural history of these remarkable creatures, providing a close-up look at their fascinating anatomy, physiology, evolution, ecology, behavior, and more. It features hundreds of stunning color photographs and illustrations and draws on a broad range of examples, from familiar ants to iridescent jewel beetles. A celebration of the rich complexity of insect life, The Complete Insect is a must-have book for insect enthusiasts and armchair naturalists.
- An absorbing, wide-ranging, and beautiful exploration of the fascinating natural history of insects
- Features a wealth of stunning full-color photographs from the field
- Includes photomicrographs and electron micrographs that offer a rare view of normally invisible structures
- Examines the complex relationship between humans and insects
- Integrates physiological adaptations with ecology and behavior
Awards and Recognition
- A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year
David A. Grimaldi is an entomologist and curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where he is also a professor at its Gilder Graduate School. He is the coauthor of Evolution of the Insects and collaborated with photographer Levon Biss on the book and exhibition Extinct and Endangered: Insects in Peril.
"This reviewer repeatedly found himself stuck on a page marveling at the hours and hours of work that had gone into the research and photography behind the detail. Like a good exhibit designer, Grimaldi does not titillate or terrify with close-ups of the monsters that typically haunt other 'bug' books. Rather, he draws readers into a world populated by wonderful, colorful insects, creating an appreciation for entomology."—G.C. Stevens, Choice
"An amazing book."—John Miles, Birdwatch
"This beautiful 368-page hard-backed book lives up to its title – it covers all you could ever want to know about insects."—Frances McKim, Pest Magazine
"If you love insects and want more background information than an ID guide can offer, The Complete Insect is a book worth considering."—Claire Bow, Outdoor Photography
"Sumptuously illustrated. . . . The authors have done a superb job in striking just the right balance of natural history and science with prose infused with their passion for all things insect."—Arthur V. Evans, The Quarterly Review of Biology
"This book [is] enlivened with myriad colour photographs that both startle and delight."—Andrew Robinson, Nature
"It's easy to run out of superlatives when talking about this book. For those of us who do not have advanced degrees in entomology yet are no less passionately interested in insects, this is the best guide of its kind - ever."—David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds
"An absorbing and beautiful exploration of the natural history of insects."—the Buzz
