This beautifully illustrated book provides an overview of the world of insects. Beginning with a look at the evolution of the insect family the introduction looks at every aspect of insect life including their basic anatomy, their fascinating life cycles, and their social organization within colonies and nests. How insects jump, leap and fly, the methods by which they defend themselves and their colonies from attack, and the methods by which they eat, including sucking, biting, chewing, grinding, and filter feeding are all included. Without insect life human activity would cease. An in-depth look at each of the orders that makes up the insect group, with examples of many common species, completes the front section of the book. The encyclopedia of insect species is organized according to geographical region adn then by insect order. Every insect order is included, from the tiniest opaque wingless creature to the largest and most spectacular beetle. The most common species from each are included, and many are illustrated with beautifully detailed watercolours. Each entry profiles the physical traits and characteristics of the different creatures. Identification details are provided for each such as body colour and segmentation, insect shape and size, a description of the habitat where each can be found and the time of year, if appropriate. - A wide-ranging, expert identification guide toevery order of the insect world including fleas, beetles, cockroaches and crickets, as well as manyless visible creatures - Identification details are provided for more than650 insect species, and many are illustrated withspecially commissioned watercolours - Includes an in-depth look at insect defencemechanisms such as camouflage, mimicry, hissing, bites and stings, and colouration that suggests danger - Each stage of the insect life cycle is described withillustrations depicting different development phases - 1000 spectacular photographs and anatomicallycorrect watercolours provide a fascinating visualrecord of the insect world