Wildlife: butterflies, other insects and spiders: general interest Books
Pelagic Publishing Hoverflies
Book SynopsisThis Naturalists’ Handbook book covers the natural history, biology and identification of the hoverfly. It will enable anyone to identify the most common hoverflies of the British Isles, providing practical guidance for methods of identification, advice on techniques and approaches to research for those wishing to plan an investigation or seeking advice on how to carry it out. The text is accompanied by clear and detailed illustrations, and references, further reading and useful addresses are included. It is a comprehensive, user-friendly resource for students, professionals, or anyone with an interest in the natural history of the hoverfly. Hoverflies are attractive, conspicuous and lively insects often seen visiting flowers. Their larvae are colourful but usually well hidden, emerging at night at feed on aphids or greenfly. They play a significant part in the biological control of crop pests. This book introduces the natural history of hoverflies with a thumbnail sketch of 42 of the species most likely to be found. It describes the biology and behaviour of the larvae, with their wide range of different diets, and discusses the tiny wasps that may parasitise them. In the adults, particular attention is paid to courtship behaviour and egg-laying, as well as flower-feeding. Selected species can be matched against the colour pictures, and their identification confirmed by a short list of critical characters. This book is a digital reprint of ISBN 0-85546-255-8 (1993). Naturalists’ Handbooks encourage and enable those interested in natural history to undertake field study, make accurate identifications and to make original contributions to research.Table of ContentsIntroduction Some old friends The biology of hoverflies Identifying hoverflies Techniques Appendix Some useful addresses References and further reading
£19.00
Brambleby Books Butterfly Gardening: How to Encourage Butterflies
Book SynopsisThis second guide in the Gardening with Nature Series gives step by step advice on how to encourage butterflies to your garden. Jenny Steel describes the importance of providing shelter and avoiding the use of pesticides, with lists of suitable nectar and larval plants, and their maintenance.
£9.49
Brambleby Books The Butterfly Collection
Book SynopsisBritain's much-revered and studied butterflies are, besides being very beautiful, a fascinating group of insects each with an intricate life story. The aim of this enchanting collection of poetry penned by respected insect ecologist - and as revealed here - accomplished poet Dr Richard Harrington, is to tell that story in verse - some scientific, some humorous, always enlightening. 'The Butterfly Collection', which describes the life and times of our 58 resident as well as some migratory species in a series of brilliant poems, is surely a kaleidoscope of inspiration and as such, a treasure to behold, containing stunning colour photographs of the butterflies themselves, mostly taken by the author.Trade ReviewA joyous, lyrical and witty delight, wonderfully capturing the personality, magic and science of Britain's butterflies. - Patrick Barkham, Natural History writer for The Guardian and author of The Butterfly Isles; These captivating and original poems, varied in style and approach, explore the character of our butterflies through the wondrous portal of poetic science. Reading them will amuse and entertain, and strengthen your love and understanding of our butterflies. - Matthew Oates, author of In Pursuit of Butterflies and Beyond Spring; It will surprise no one who knows the author that most verses are infused with a happy wit, whilst some, including lines on 'The Gatekeeper', are surely serious poetry. I warmly recommend this collection: it is a book that can be dipped into, re-read and thoroughly enjoyed. - Prof. Jeremy Thomas OBE; Professional entomologist Richard Harrington provides a colourful insight into the world of UK butterflies in his book of original poems, The Butterfly Collection. Each species is treated to its own lyrical tribute, brought to life against a backdrop of striking images and accompanied by the author's own personal reflections and experiences. Light-hearted, educational and fun to read, this book would make a wonderful gift for budding lepidopterists and experts alike. - Katie Callaghan, Butterfly, Butterfly Conservation; The Butterfly Collection is an unusual fusion of the arts and sciences that have been blended with a large dose of the author's wit and obvious love of his subject, it is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of our butterflies that will be loved and cherished by all who read it. - Peter Smithers, Antenna, RES; This is a delightful poetry book, unusual and excellent. - John Tennent, Atropos; It's all tremendous fun and will entertain and delight butterfly lovers. - Peter Marren, British Wildlife; This is a very readable book and, surprisingly, packed with useful information. Not only is each sidebar informative, but the poem associated with each species is well-crafted and brings to life the essence of the butterfly - whether it is referring to its structure, behaviour, history or other aspect that is unique to the species. I have no doubt that many readers will come away enlightened as the nuances of each species are delicately interwoven within the overall structure of each poem. Just as importantly, each poem is an easy read and sprinkled with humour. This book may even encourage the reader to take more interest in our butterfly fauna. - Peter Eeles, UK Butterflies, Dispar
£18.00
Brambleby Books Bee Tiger: The Death's Head Hawk-moth through the
Book SynopsisThe clear skull markings on the thorax of the large and impressive Death's Head Hawk-moth are truly fascinating, often perceived as a threat or leading to superstitious and mythological beliefs. Here the author, an authority in mimicry, discusses why we are so intrigued by these markings but also explains how other animals may perceive its form and behaviour. This moth has evolved to deceive its main predators, especially birds and bats, and to rob bees of their honey without getting stung, again by deceiving them of its true nature, with acoustic, visual and chemical signals in play. It is able to do this because of the obvious, but usually overlooked, fact that other animals live in a different sensory world to us, i.e. their perceptions are different.Trade ReviewA bizarre but revealing lens through which to view human life, death, our relationship to the natural world and its relationship to us. - Charles Foster, prize-winning author of Being a Beast.Table of ContentsContents Foreword by Simon Barnes Introduction Chapter 1 Threat and superstition Chapter 2 The Sphinx that dines on potatoes and honey Chapter 3 The Art of Collectors Chapter 4 Skulls and art Chapter 5 Monsters Chapter 6 The honeybees' tale Chapter 7 The bat's tale: seeing sounds Chapter 8 The bird's tale Chapter 9 Mirrors to Reality
£12.59
Brambleby Books Dragons and Damsels: An identification guide to
Book SynopsisA comprehensive and user-friendly photographic identification guide to all of the species, sexes and forms of British and Irish dragon- and damselflies, with essential field notes and habitat photographs to aid finding each species.
£19.80
Saraband The Dragonfly Diaries: The Unlikely Story of
Book SynopsisBritain is home to some forty species of dragonfly, and public interest in their plight is high right now thanks to their primeval beauty, aerobatic grace and a growing realisation of their importance for water eco-systems. In ‘The Dragonfly Diaries’, Ruary Mackenzie Dodds shares his quirky fascination for these remarkable creatures over the 25 years he has been photographing and working with them. Combining fascinating description of the lives of dragonflies, with a diary chronicling the ups and downs of establishing Britain’s first public dragonfly sanctuary, ‘The Dragonfly Diaries’ is a must for nature buffs and for anyone who wants to be inspired by the resolve and dedication of a man on a mission to save these critically important insects.Trade Review"This lovely book catalogues [Ruary's] journey... and cements his status as one of Britain's greatest living naturalists" -- Chris Packham“His writing reminded me of Eric Newby’s style… it is a story of a love of dragonflies, and a story of dragonfly lovers too… I liked it a lot.” -- Mark Avery“This is a wonderful book, it is inspirational. A must have for any one that is thinking about getting into dragonflies!” -- British Dragonfly Society“Irresistible and immensely warming. [Dodds] has a lovely turn of phrase and the reader is right there with him, absorbing the magic.” -- Peter Mayhew * University of York, Antenna Journal *
£11.69
Field Studies Council Guide to Insects of the British Isles
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£6.44
Field Studies Council Illustrated Key to the Families of British
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£6.78
Field Studies Council Garden Bugs and Beasties
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£6.44
Field Studies Council Illustrated Key to the British False Scorpions:
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£7.68
Field Studies Council Guide to longhorn beetles of Britain: 2018
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£6.44
Field Studies Council Guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland:
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£6.73
Field Studies Council Guide to caterpillars of the butterflies of
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£6.44
Field Studies Council Adult Caddis (Trichoptera) of Britain and
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£20.00
Field Studies Council British Plant Galls: 2023
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£30.00
£12.97
Graffeg Limited Nature Book Series, The: The Bee Book
Book SynopsisSmall, vital and mysterious, bees are an essential part of our ecosystem yet they are under greater threat than ever before. The Bee Book offers a unique insight into this most fascinating of creatures, from the mystery of the hive; the power of the queen; and the many appearances of bees in folklore, literature and art.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Nature’s Wonders: Moments that mark the seasons
Book SynopsisBritain’s nature year, from the first flower to the last leaf With a mix of evocative writing, beautiful photographs and facts that are too good to keep to yourself, this book explores 50 magical moments that define our seasons. It’s an inspiring guide to connecting with the nature around you and seeing how it changes through the year. There’s butterflies, blossom and bluebells. There’s foxgloves, flying ants and fungi. There’s snow, seedheads and shadows. You’ll discover how many miles an hour spring moves, how spiders can heal us and how woodpeckers help to protect sensitive technology. The inspiration behind the book is partly the National Trust’s hugely successful 'Blossom Watch' campaign, launched in March 2021. Each year we are encouraged to notice and share when we first see tree blossom, emulating the Japanese tradition of 'Hanami'.
£13.49
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Naturalist's Guide to the Insects of Britain
Book SynopsisThis easy-to-use identification guide to 280 insect species most commonly seen in Britain and northern Europe is perfect for amateur naturalists. High quality photographs from Britain's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include common and scientific name, height, distribution and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers the different habitats, life-cycles and the study and conservation of insects. Naturalist's Guide series: A series of photographic wildlife identification guides. Each title features 280 species that a keen amateur might expect to see in the field or garden. High quality photographs are accompanied by full species descriptions, giving identifying features, as well as details of size, habits, habitats and distribution. Each title is written by an acknowledged expert in the subject with photographs largely supplied by Paul Sterry, a biologist whose interest in natural history spans more than 50 yearsTrade Review"A visually stunning and superbly readable guide to our very special garden insects" Chris Packham.
£8.54
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Photographic Field Guide to the Dragonflies &
Book SynopsisA Photographic Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Singapore is a fully comprehensive field guide to the 136 species of dragonfly and damselfly found in Singapore. With stunning, close-up photographs from the authors, each species is illustrated with multiple variants. The general introduction provides a comprehensive overview of dragonfly anatomy, feeding habits, courtship and reproduction; also dragonfly research and conservation in Singapore, plus the best places for dragonfly watching in Singapore. Detailed coverage of every species includes key features for field identification; telling apart similar species; habitat and habits; presence in Singapore; etymology; wider distribution; national and IUCN conservation statuses; and larval features. Additionally, a QR code links to detailed larvae images from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum website. The final section gives a checklist of the country status and conservation status of all of Singapore's odonates.
£31.99
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies of Sri
Book SynopsisIncreasingly the segmentation between birders, butterfly watchers, dragonfly watchers and photographers is reducing as interests overlap and there is a demand for books that cover the three popular groups. The emphasis for the 148 species of butterfly and 78 dragonflies featured in this second edition is on the commoner species, covering around 90 per cent of those that a visitor is likely to see. It is also an excellent book for residents to learn about the commoner butterflies and dragonflies before progressing to more advanced technical books. The guide is focussed on field use to help beginners and experts identify species and provides information on their distribution and habitats. As identification of butterflies and dragonflies require a different approach, the two sections are done as two mini photographic field guides with common introductory sections to wildlife watching in Sri Lanka. The book includes information on the key wildlife sites, general introductions to the biology of dragonflies and butterflies, up-to-date checklists with local status and useful references for people who wish to progress further with their study of these charismatic and photogenic animals.
£11.69
Fox Chapel Publishers International Know Your Pollinators
Book SynopsisDid you know a honeybee visits about 50 to 100 flowers during each nectar-collection trip? You'll discover loads of interesting facts about 35 common pollinating insects - from ladybugs, moths, and beetles to bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies - including appearance, history and breeding, and details of how to attract them to your garden. From ladybugs whose larvae love to munch on herbs like coriander, fennel, and dill, to nocturnal moths who prefer a flower's scent to its colour, this fun and fascinating pocket guide will turn both young and old into pollinator enthusiasts.
£6.64
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies of
Book SynopsisA Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies of Australia is an introductory photographic guide to 280 butterfly species commonly seen in Australia, and is perfect for residents and visitors alike. The 2nd edition includes extensive updates to the text, featuring revised taxonomy and multiple new images of the species covered. High-quality photographs from Australia's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habitat and habits. The user-friendly introduction covers the structure and life cycle of butterflies and their behaviour as a key to observing them. Also included is an up-to-date checklist of the butterflies of Australia encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific names and is IUCN status.
£11.69
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd Identification Guide to Garden Insects of Britain
Book SynopsisA photographic identification guide to 150 species of garden insect most commonly found in Britain and North-West Europe. Packed with information, written with huge enthusiasm and illustrated with incredible close-up photos, this guide shines a spotlight on the insects in your garden. The introduction covers how to attract insects to your garden, the insect lover's year, a description of the parts of an insect and details of the insect orders described. For each species there is a keenly observed description to help you identify even the smallest creature, as well as one or two photographs labelled with distinguishing features. There are details of its life cycle from egg to adult, a calendar showing the time of year when the adult can be seen and star facts that give further proof of insects' fascinating lives.
£13.49
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Naturalists Guide to the Butterflies of Hong
Book SynopsisANaturalist's Guide to the Butterflies of Hong Kong is a photographic identificationguide to 235 butterfly species found in Hong Kong (99.9% coverage), and isperfect for resident and visitor alike.
£11.69
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Naturalists Guide to the Butterflies Moths of
Book SynopsisA Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies & Moths of Aotearoa New Zealand is an easy-to-use introductory identification guide to 361 species of butterfly and moth found in Aotearoa New Zealand
£11.69
Saraband / Contraband The Butterfly
Book SynopsisUnderstanding, loving and protecting butterfliesin all their enchantments. Butterflies have enchanted and intrigued us for centuries. From the eighteenth-century aurelians, through the Victorian golden age of collecting, to the twentieth-century focus on conservation, humans have chased glimpses of these beautiful but elusive creatures. Winding through literature, art, music, and dreams, The Butterfly: Flights of Enchantment uncovers why butterflies continue to inhabit such a profound place in our imagination. A first of its kind in combining the history of human interest in butterflies with a guide to practical observation, this pocket guide encourages us to nurture our curiosity and head out into our local environment, focusing on edgeland habitats that are home to many species. It is perhaps because butterflies are so fragile and fleeting that we are so beguiled by them. But now, as numbers dwindle, they have never been more difficult to spot. The Butterfly paves the way towards observing, identifying and ultimately protecting them.
£8.54
Exisle Publishing Minibeasts: True rulers of our world and the key
Book SynopsisThis stunning insight into the micro world of the minibeasts reveals the critical roles these true rulers of our world play in our future survival. Simply put, without the invertebrates (insects) and other tiny critters, humans would not survive. While outlining the importance of the minibeast world, this book is also a visual feast of detail and colour, capturing form and behaviour that the naked eye isn't normally able to see when encountering these small creatures. The result is a book that captivates the reader while at the same time inspiring a new appreciation for these magnificent animals. Lavishly illustrated with breathtaking macro-photography, each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of minibeasts and includes introductory text followed by images and informative captions. Among the topics covered are the jobs minibeasts perform that enable life on earth to exist, as well as the ways in which they have evolved to suit their environments and how we borrow ideas from them in the fields of biotechnology, engineering and design. As we will come to realise, from new medical drugs to hi-tech robotics, minibeasts provide a wealth of material for humans to draw on to help solve our 21-century problems.
£21.84
New Holland Publishers Insects of the World: A fully illustrated guide
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£19.99
New Holland Publishers World of Insects: A stunning photographic
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£16.99
Rocky Mountain Books,Canada The Insatiable Bark Beetle
Book SynopsisIn our ever-warming world, trillions of indigenous bark beetles are killing billions of mature conifers throughout the forests of western North America and around the world, as they embark on their largest and most destructive feeding frenzy in modern times. In areas where cold temperatures traditionally prevented these insects from thriving, our once-healthy but now water-starved trees are becoming more and more vulnerable to the voracious appetites of these destructive pests. With aspects of both our environment and the economy at stake, Dr. Reese Halter''s second RMB Manifesto provides information on the various types of beetles negatively impacting trees, descriptions of the ecosystems they currently inhabit, and an accessible look at the future humanity may face if we do not find ways to control greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, which are contributing factors to the ongoing spread of bark beetles.
£15.29
Psylon Press Best Termite Control: All You Need to Know about Termites and How to Get Rid of Them Fast
£14.00
Boulder Books Stouts, Millers, and Forky-Tails: Insects of
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£19.19
Arment Biological Press Stick Insects of the Continental United States and Canada: Species and Early Studies
£15.70
Waldorf Publications The Bee Book
Book SynopsisStreit's father was a watchmaker who also kept bees, and it was in early childhood that Jakob developed a passion for the honeybee. This exquisite reader for Steiner-Waldorf schools factually and scientifically allows one to enter into the magic and mysterious world of the bees.It offers a useful transition from Class 4 to Class 5, moving from the Animal and the Human Being lesson block, to the Botany block. It is also recommended for Class 3.Along with another of Jacob Streit's books, Little Bee Sunbeam, it is one of two books recommended for the sexuality curriculum in the Waldorf school.
£9.49
Kollath-Stensaas Publishers Insects of New England & New York
Book SynopsisThis go-to guide will help you identify the most interesting six-legged critters native to the Northeast. Tom Murray shares natural history nuggets and identification tips on over 1,000 species of insects! The book includes hundreds of color photos.
£19.61
Kollath-Stensaas Publishers Earthworms of the Great Lakes, Second Edition
Book SynopsisIdentify 16 species of earthworms found in the ground beneath your feet, and educate yourself as to their role in our forest ecosystems. Methods for collecting worms and keys to identifying your finds are included in this great research tool.
£9.99
Kollath-Stensaas Publishers Spiders of the North Woods, Second Edition
Book SynopsisWhich spider spits venom and sticky threads? Why don't Northerners need to fear the Black Widow? These answers and more are found in Spiders of the North Woods. The easy-to-follow format makes field identification of 135 species simple and fun.
£12.59
Kollath-Stensaas Publishers Dragonflies of the North Woods
Book SynopsisWhich dragonfly eats large butterflies and other dragonflies? Learn about all 102 species of dragonflies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario. Over 250 new photos and 30-plus new illustrations have been added to the third edition of the best-selling Dragonflies of the North Woods, which won a National Outdoor Book Award. The new maps are larger and updated with the latest survey data, and each dragonfly species has a full 2-page spread of images and information!
£17.09
Kollath-Stensaas Publishers Tiger Beetles of Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan
Book SynopsisLearn to Identify Tiger Beetles with This Field Guide We are all very lucky that tiger beetles aren't the size of German Shepherds! These ferocious, pint-sized predators are beautifully marked, and some are extremely colorful. They are fascinating to watch and easy to find. Join in the fun with Tiger Beetles of Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan by Mathew Brust with full-color photography by Mike Reese. All 21 species found in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan are covered in detail, with loads of amazing natural history and the information you need to identify what you see. Inside You’ll Find All 21 species of tiger beetles found in Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan Innovative format that makes field identification a snap Fieldmark arrows that point out the best distinguishing characteristics The best habitats to look for tiger beetles More than 180 color photos and detailed range maps for all species Elytra comparison chart for easy IDs “Tiger beetling” has become very popular with naturalists across the country. Get in on the fun with this handy field guide that conveniently fits in your backpack or back pocket.Table of ContentsMeet the Tiger Beetle Tiger Beetle Biology 101 Larval Biology Observation & Conservation Collecting & Photography Citizen Science How to Use this Field Guide Pronunciation Guide Habitats of Tiger Beetles How to Identify Tiger Beetles Elytra Comparison Chart Species Accounts Notes on Species’ Larval Biology Glossary Internet Resources & Titles of Interest References Binoculars for Tiger Beetling Index Photo Credits
£16.19
Kollath-Stensaas Publishers Damselflies of Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan
Book SynopsisAll 51 Species of Damselflies in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan Get the new edition of Damselflies of Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan. As part of the popular North Woods Naturalist Series, this handy field guide by Robert DuBois and Mike Reese contains detailed information and features an innovative format that makes field identification a snap. Fieldmark arrows point out the best distinguishing characteristics. Amazingly detailed art clearly illustrates the claspers and abdomen tips, further helping to distinguish between closely related species. The range maps are larger and updated with the latest survey data, and red-bar phenograms help you know when each species is on the wing. Fascinating natural history facts and more than 170 photographs create a perfect guide to carry with you. It is the first comprehensive guide to damselflies in all of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.Table of ContentsParts of a Damselfly What Is a Damselfly? Biology & Behavior Damselfly Observation How to Use This Field Guide Damselfly Identification Family Key Broad-winged Damsels Spreadwings Pond Damsels Glossary Checklist of Damselflies Damselfly Groups Websites/Photo Credits Titles of Interest Index
£17.09
Fulcrum Publishing Creepy Crawlies and the Scientific Method: More
Book SynopsisFrom monarch butterflies to hissing cockroaches, Creepy Crawlies and the Scientific Method, Second Edition shows teachers and parents how to use bugs, insects and critters to teach children the five steps of the scientific method: question, hypothesis, methods, result, and conclusion. Focusing on fun as well as education, and operating on the premise that doing is learning, Creepy Crawlies offers more than 100 different activities which will ignite children's curiosity while also building foundations for critical thinking and scientific understanding. This classroom-tested collection of experiments is a perfect resource for teachers or just an afternoon of educational fun at home. The second edition includes updated content and four new insect species: the monarch butterfly, the black swallowtail butterfly, the bessbug, and the Madagascar hissing roach!Trade Review"...quite simply the best science resource book I have discovered." Kidsphere "...guaranteed to tantalize...terrific choice" Deborah Zink Roffino, South Florida Parenting (Bacons) "In clear language, this book explains the scientific method...Sally Kneidel takes learners on many exciting adventures." Charles and Glenda Denny, Science Books and Films "...made me want to do science experiments with my students and had me exploring under rocks and dead leaves to find some of the fascinating creatures she profiles." NJEA Review Great Outdoors Buzz Book in Alaska Parent magazine
£19.76
Los Angeles Review of Books Animal Quintet: A Southern Memoir
Book SynopsisColin Dayan meditates on the connection between her personal and family history and her relationship with animals in this lyrical memoir about her upbringing in the South. Unraveling memories alongside family documents and photographs, Animal Quintet takes a raw look at racial tensions and relations in a region struggling to change while providing a disquieting picture of a childhood accessible only through accounts of the non-human, ranging from famed Southern war horses led by Civil War generals and doomed Spanish fighting bulls to the lowly possum hunted by generations of Southerners. Placing the reader in the mind’s eye of a writer still grappling with her own mixed identity and unsettled past, the book is uniquely capable of transporting one’s imagination across time and place, mirroring the natural behavior of remembrances with its feeling of dislocation and non-linear movement. Regional folk songs about old gray mares and possums hiding in trees intermingle with stories and confidences shared by the household’s African-American nanny, enclosing the reader in a chorus composed of otherwise lost voices. Presented in a such a way that it simultaneously longs for the past and attempts to keep it at arm’s length, Animal Quintet achieves a haunting, nostalgic quality rare to memoirs focused on ancestral and personal identity.Trade ReviewColin Dayan brings a rare combination to her work: a strong mind and an expansive heart. -- Mark Edmundson * author of Why Read? and The Death of Sigmund Freud. *Colin Dayan’s Animal Quintet explores the complexity of race, class, gender and region with relation to animality and history. What is it that we remember of pasts that have receded? What prompts such remembrance? How is the past always made present? Perhaps through feeling, through mood, through song. Focusing on animals and the relations they share with humans, the distinctions between are interrogated and considered and wrestled with and thought about. -- Ashon T. Crawley * Associate Professor of Religious Studies and African American Studies, University of Virginia *Colin Dayan’s lyrical prose is haunting, it oozes through the hot, humid, and putrid air of the deep South calling her back as if to ask her to finish her thought after all these years. This memoir feels like a lucid dream dipped in magic realism. The languid posture of the mother melts into the bull’s body distorted with pain, meanwhile the crickets are noisily rubbing their legs in anticipation of sex. A mesmerizing tableau. -- Benedicte Boisseron * Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor *Colin Dayan’s stories of mournful intimacy with animals bring the entanglement of our flesh and bodies to light, a light that seeps through her sweaty, lyrical, Southern memories. Hauntingly beautiful, these musings warn us of our profound precarity. -- Lori Gruen * author of Entangled Empathy *Growing up in an atmosphere of violent sociality and unnamed desires, Dayan gravitates toward nonhuman beings—horses, chickens, possums, dogs--watching their every movement, their acts of survival, and their eventual death, often at the hands of humans. Dayan writes, “The horses keep dying. The humans keep watching.” In exquisite prose that recounts her mother’s passions and demise, the gatherings of humans around husbandry and slaughter, and the dense psychic weight of racial caste systems and anti-black violence, Dayan brings to the fore an enmeshment that tethers her grief and memories to animals that inhabit the south. She writes of how memory flows through the blood and circulates in interspecies relations. I am left with her words: “there is no story about humans that is not also a story about animals. I love love love this text.” -- Nicole R. Fleetwood * Professor of American Studies and Art History, Rutgers University *We are mistaken to set ourselves above animals—our pets, our domesticated resources, our wild dangers, our prey—which we only understand in terms of our ability or failure to control or possess them. Dayan’s poignant lyrical journal shows that they are conduits to our deepest memories. Seeing history through them, we may learn to yield our claims to dominion and mourn the present that our power has made. -- Vincent Brown * author of The Reaper’s Garden: Death and Power in the World of Atlantic Slavery *Through her evocative and lyrical writing Colin Dayan once again demonstrates the interconnections between the natural world and human life. She takes a familiar narrative form of an adult remembering her childhood, but weaves a brilliant southern quilt filled with cold and warm terror, spurned love, the ubiquity of cruelty and the astonishing indifference that often accompanies it. Animal Quintet reckons with the inscrutable, letting us know, too, that mysteries remain. Dayan asks us to think harder about what we do to animals. If we are as lucky as she, we can locate the vast untapped and unexpressed parts of our own humanity. -- Gayle Pemberton * Professor of English and African American Studies Emerita, Wesleyan University *
£10.44
St. Lynn's Press The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly
Book SynopsisEvery fall, spectacular orange and black clouds of monarch butterflies fill the skies as they migrate from across North America to Central Mexico. West Coast populations make a similar though much shorter trip to coastal California. The National Wildlife Federation calls the monarch migration “one of the greatest natural phenomena in the insect world.” Not long ago, monarchs numbered in the billions, but in the last 20 years their population has dropped by 90%, due to habitat loss from pesticides, modern farming practices, urban development and other human activity. An estimated one million acres of habitat are lost each year. But today, an army of citizen scientists, students and gardeners is engaged in restoring this beloved pollinator’s habitat – the wildflowers and milkweed and feeding corridors – so that one of nature’s most beautiful creatures will still be there for generations to come. And it starts in our own backyards. The Monarch showcases this magnificent butterfly with eye-popping photos, fun facts about a monarch’s life cycle, and things to know about the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystem. Monarch enthusiast and nature blogger Kylee Baumle provides “action” projects for all ages, from planting milkweed and wildflowers to making butterfly watering stations…to volunteer activism.Trade ReviewThis is an attractive book, chock-full of information, that would be useful to anyone from a teenaged student to a veteran gardener. If you love monarch butterflies or want to learn more about them, check it out!"The Monarch" includes just enough science to fascinate without getting too "sciency." This book should find its way to a shelf in every library and classroom. If you love learning about and looking at stunning photography of nature, you'll love this book.Illustrated by beautiful photos, Baumle packed this work with carefully researched facts, online resources, projects and a road map of how to join the movement to save the monarch and other butterflies that are at risk in today’s world. -- Nancy Szerlag
£15.99
Girl Friday Productions Meditations on Butterflies: A Coloring and
Book Synopsis Fly away from daily stresses while coloring and journaling, taking inspiration from the natural beauty of butterflies. Author Kristen D’Angelo and artist/author Maryjo Koch have created the ultimate inspirational gift book. Meditations on Butterflies features 26 stunning North American butterfly species, from the Monarch to the Painted Lady to the Tiger Swallowtail and more, for coloring book fans to color and complete. Readers will learn the butterflies’ beautiful winged markings, practice simple calligraphy, and enjoy calming nature quotes. Pages also guide readers to adorn each page with butterfly and garden observations, daily gratitudes, and encouraging notes. Fifty-two additional lined pages are included (between the color plates) for weekly journaling. Coloring book and guided journal enthusiasts using Meditations on Butterflies will: • Recharge and relax while doing something creative • Find emotional balance through reflective journaling • Be inspired by nature and the transformative beauty of butterflies through artwork • Appreciate the restorative power of mindful gratitude and insightful verse Meditations on Butterflies features removable, perforated pages. Each finished color plate can be detached from the book and framed as personal artwork. The thick, matte, acid-free paper is archival quality and perfect for colored pencils and inks.
£12.99
Simon & Schuster Extraordinary Insects: The Fabulous,
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£15.30
Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society Micro-Moth Field Tips: A Guide to Finding the
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£15.19
Association Vahatra in Antananarivo Ants of Madagascar A Guide to the 62 Genera
Book SynopsisAnts are among the most conspicuous and ecologically important of insects. Illustrated throughout, this bilingual French-English pocket guide for tourists, students, and researchers introduces the fascinating and diverse ant fauna of Madagascar, presenting aspects of their natural history, ecology, distribution patterns, and how to identify them.
£43.46
