Book Review - Insects of North America - Princeton Field Guides

 

     One may state up front that this is a remarkable work, without fear of contradiction. It combines in one volume the 783 families of insects that are currently recognized in North America north of the Mexico/USA border, and that, it seems to me, is a remarkable achievement in and of itself. 

     John C. Abbott and Kendra Abbott come to the work with impressive credentials and their depth of knowledge, experience and communication skills are evident throughout.

     I derived a good deal of pleasure from the end flaps alone. At the front the various orders are depicted with a brief description indicating unique features to aid in identification, while at the rear the reader is treated to a wonderful pictorial depiction of insect morphology.

     The introductory section begins with an explanation of what constitutes an insect, followed by a section on nomenclature and classification. A pie chart diagrammatically illustrates the range of insect diversity. Unfortunately, insect populations are under threat from countless causes, graphically depicted as "Death by a thousand cuts." At every phase of their lives these organisms that are so critical to continued life on Earth are threatened  by all the well known anthropogenic actions that daily mitigate against the future of all species, including our own.

     For the insect scientist, professional and citizen alike, a comprehensive section deals with collecting and displaying arthropods, including the subtle art of photography. 

     Insects, of course, are a potentially rich source of food for humans, although we in the west have a long way to go before overcoming our aversion to eating them. There are clearly huge rewards in terms of winning the battle against climate change by switching to insect consumption, but I don't expect we are going to add crickets to our diet any time soon!

     The balance of the book is dedicated to all of the orders and families of insects, with phenomenal photographs and informative, concise text. Page after wonderfully-illustrated page is packed with the essential components of a very useful, user-friendly guide.

 

     Even if your primary interest is birds, mammals or plants, or indeed any other facet of nature, insects will play a part, whether as parasite, predator or food. They are found in every environment, and, collectively, are a keystone component of a healthy ecosystem. Insects are everywhere!

     You need this book to help you identify them more easily, and understand them in greater depth. And don't forget to ask your local library to add a copy to their shelves. Everyone should have access to it!

Insects of North America - Princeton Field Guides

John C. Abbott, Kendra K. Abbott

US$24.95. £20, ISBN: 9780691232850

600 pages, 4.5 x 7.25 inches (11.25 x 18.25 cm)

3700 + colour photos and illustrations

Publication date: 02 May, 2023 (US), 13 June, 2023 (UK)