Insects A to Z

Stephen A. Marshall is a professor of entomology at the University of Guelph. He has discovered hundreds of new species, several new genera and even two new subfamilies. His previous book is the widely acclaimed Insects: "Their Natural History and Diversity."

The true measure of any A to Z book is how forced it feels-how many times have we seen authors creatively evading the letter X. In this regard Marshall's book is a success as it cycles through an expansive eye-opening range of creepy-crawlies. It even passes the X test: Xylocopid bees. The text is rich with academic information... This is a godsend for serious young entomologists who will appreciate having their intelligence respected. The big photographs give startling dimension to the leaflike katydids, the delicate lacewings, and the metallic tiger beetles, while insets give a second glimpse of the species. Fact boxes, meanwhile, break down the vital stats. The packaging of the A to Z series may be odd but the contents are impressive.--Daniel Kraus"Booklist" (04/01/2010)