Watching dragonflies dart among the plants on a riverbank or at the edge of your pond is one of the joys of summer. But do you know a Southern Damselfly from a Variable Damselfly? Or can you tell the difference between a Scarce Chaser and a Keeled Skimmer? Dragonflies and damselflies - known collectively as Odonata - are some of our most fascinating insects. Although they only live for a short time, they have many behaviours that are easy to observe, including captivating aerial skills that they utilise to hunt in mid-air. RSPB ID Spotlight Dragonflies and Damselflies is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 42 of our most widespread and familiar Odonata by renowned artist Richard Lewington. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field - The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our dragonflies and damselflies, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB and other conservation charities are working to support them - Practical tips on how to install a wildlife pond and make your garden more dragonfly- and damselfly-friendly are also included The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

Whether you are following the progress of a moth as it flutters around a street lamp or become captivated by the sight of a hawk-moth feeding from lavender, moths are everywhere. But can you tell a Peach Blossom from a Buff Arches? Or distinguish between a Cinnabar and a Six-spot Burnet? Mostly active by night, moths are often overlooked compared to colourful day-flying butterflies. But the UK is home to more than 2,500 moth species, many of which are beautiful and varied, with different wing shapes, sizes and patterns. RSPB ID Spotlight Moths is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 90 of our most widespread and familiar moths by renowned artist Richard Lewington. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field - The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our moths, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB and other conservation charities are working to support them - Practical tips on how to monitor moth populations and turn your garden into a moth haven are also included The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

Watching a garden busy with bees is one of the joys of summer. But can you tell a White-tailed Bumblebee from a Garden Bumblebee? Or confidently distinguish between a Patchwork Leafcutter Bee and a Long-horned Bee? Britain and Ireland are home to more than 270 species of bees, some of which play an important ecological role through their industrious pollination of our crops and wildflowers. RSPB ID Spotlight Bees is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 40 of our most widespread and familiar bees by renowned artist Richard Lewington. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field - The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our bees, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB and other conservation charities are working to support them - Practical tips on bug houses, planting for pollinators and gardening for bees are also included The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

Besides being a world-famous game-viewing destination, the Kruger National Park is home to an incredible diversity of bugs, beetles, butterflies, spiders, scorpions and other creepy-crawlies. This richly illustrated, beginner-friendly guide is ideal for the casual visitor keen to identify and learn more about the Park’s smaller inhabitants.

Find out what happens inside a termite mound, how ladybirds protect themselves from predators, and why dung beetles race to fresh dung pats.

Aimed at the popular market, this book:

• Spans 30 groups, including moths, beetles, wasps, crickets and spiders, and features over 200 commonly encountered species
• Contains vivid photographs of Kruger’s most interesting and attractive critters
• Unpacks noteworthy behaviours and biology
• Introduces key concepts, such as mimicry, cryptic coloration, metamorphosis, parasitism and pollination
• Includes bug-watching and photography tips for beginners

Part of the NATURE NOW series, this beginner-friendly, richly illustrated guide is an informative and entertaining read, sure to appeal to visitors who want to make the most of their visit to the Kruger National Park.

Gardens are often crawling with all kinds of garden bugs, and even the smallest plot can be an important haven for wildlife. But can you distinguish between a Garden Snail and a Strawberry Snail? Or can you tell a False Widow Spider from a Harvestman? These are just some of the more than 2,000 different species of garden bugs that are found in the British Isles, many of which we depend on for our own survival. RSPB ID Spotlight Garden Bugs is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of more than 50 of our most widespread and familiar garden bugs by renowned artist Richard Lewington. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are shown side-by-side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field - The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our garden bugs, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB and other conservation charities are working to support them - Practical tips on bug houses and implementing wildlife-friendly garden practices are also included The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

The life and times and trials of a new butterfly Flutterbye, the Butterfly must make the arduous journey to Mexico for the winter. Everything she sees, does, and thinks is a new endeavor for her, since, as a brand new butterfly, she's never DONE any of these things before Readers follow the wonder of a new butterfly's brand new discoveries -- every day She must learn to eat and fly and avoid predators and eat and fly and... The book (soon to belong to a series) comes with a section in the front for suggested lesson ideas for teachers and parents. And in the back, there are sections of "enrichment" for almost every page An entire unit on Monarch butterflies, in one book

Many people would like to make their own honey but think it's a very complicated, involved process. The truth is that beekeeping is a very simple undertaking and nearly anyone can learn to do it. It's a fascinating hobby that you can enjoy for years, spending very little of your own money but reaping enormous benefits. Things to think about-what will you do with the honey? Is it a hobby or a business? Do you garden a lot? Don't use pesticides if you have bees. Your neighbors may be using them and you can try to bribe them to stop with the promise of honey. Farmers nearby won't stop but bees do build up a tolerance to certain chemicals.

This version of the book is fully illustrated and contains over a hundred photographs in black & white. Moths of the Limberlost is a fascinating book written by the well-known American novelist and photographer Gene Stratton-Porter. It paints a vibrant picture of her delight in the moths as she loves, cares for, breeds and studies the creatures. The first chapter is an introduction and the second is an overview of the natural history of moths, however, it is only marginally technical and she interweaves the chapter with her own experiences. In the final thirteen chapters she focuses on one moth per chapter, the moths that have most caught her interest. It is partly an autobiography as she describes her experiences from childhood - her delights and joys at successfully breeding them or learning something new about them and her sadness when they die or don't breed. It describes her family's help in this passion and the friends she gained through the pursuit. It is a beautiful window into the person she was and her love of nature.

" Honey bees--and the qualities associated with them--have quietly influenced American values for four centuries. During every major period in the country's history, bees and beekeepers have represented order and stability in a country without a national religion, political party, or language. Bees in America is an enlightening cultural history of bees and beekeeping in the United States. Tammy Horn, herself a beekeeper, offers a varied social and technological history from the colonial period, when the British first introduced bees to the New World, to the present, when bees are being used by the American military to detect bombs. Early European colonists introduced bees to the New World as part of an agrarian philosophy borrowed from the Greeks and Romans. Their legacy was intended to provide sustenance and a livelihood for immigrants in search of new opportunities, and the honey bee became a sign of colonization, alerting Native Americans to settlers' westward advance. Colonists imagined their own endeavors in terms of bees' hallmark traits of industry and thrift and the image of the busy and growing hive soon shaped American ideals about work, family, community, and leisure. The image of the hive continued to be popular in the eighteenth century, symbolizing a society working together for the common good and reflecting Enlightenment principles of order and balance. Less than a half-century later, Mormons settling Utah (where the bee is the state symbol) adopted the hive as a metaphor for their protected and close-knit culture that revolved around industry, harmony, frugality, and cooperation. In the Great Depression, beehives provided food and bartering goods for many farm families, and during World War II, the War Food Administration urged beekeepers to conserve every ounce of beeswax their bees provided, as more than a million pounds a year were being used in the manufacture of war products ranging from waterproofing products to tape. The bee remains a bellwether in modern America. Like so many other insects and animals, the bee population was decimated by the growing use of chemical pesticides in the 1970s. Nevertheless, beekeeping has experienced a revival as natural products containing honey and beeswax have increased the visibility and desirability of the honey bee. Still a powerful representation of success, the industrious honey bee continues to serve both as a source of income and a metaphor for globalization as America emerges as a leader in the Information Age.

RSPB ID Spotlight Ladybirds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 27 of our most widespread and familiar ladybirds by renowned artist Richard Lewington. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field, or the chart can be fixed to the wall as a beautiful poster - The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our ladybirds, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how we can support them The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.