Join Books.org — it's free

Landscape, Nature & Wildlife Photography, Arthropods - Insects - Beetles
An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles by Arthur V. Evans — book cover

An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles

by Arthur V. Evans, Charles L. Bellamy, Lisa Charles Watson
Write a review
Log in to track your reading progress.

Overview

An
Inordinate Fondness for Beetles
is an authoritative reference in a breathtakingly beautiful volume, one that will leave every reader with a deeper understanding, appreciation, and—yes—fondness for these amazing creatures and their place in nature.
In terms of numbers, beetles are the most successful creatures on earth: about 350,000 species of beetles have been described since 1758. They range from tiny to gigantic, occupy sundry habitats, and eat everything—plants, animals, and their own remains. An
Inordinate Fondness for Beetles
provides an engaging look at these magnificent yet poorly understood creatures and highlights the absolutely essential role they play in the dynamics of nearly every terrestrial ecosystem on Earth. And, as this book beautifully demonstrates, the aesthetics of beetle design are amazing. The fantastic colors and shapes of these creatures warrant the gorgeous color photography lavished on them in this book.

Synopsis

An
Inordinate Fondness for Beetles
is an authoritative reference in a breathtakingly beautiful volume, one that will leave every reader with a deeper understanding, appreciation, and—yes—fondness for these amazing creatures and their place in nature.
In terms of numbers, beetles are the most successful creatures on earth: about 350,000 species of beetles have been described since 1758. They range from tiny to gigantic, occupy sundry habitats, and eat everything—plants, animals, and their own remains. An
Inordinate Fondness for Beetles
provides an engaging look at these magnificent yet poorly understood creatures and highlights the absolutely essential role they play in the dynamics of nearly every terrestrial ecosystem on Earth. And, as this book beautifully demonstrates, the aesthetics of beetle design are amazing. The fantastic colors and shapes of these creatures warrant the gorgeous color photography lavished on them in this book.

E Magazine

These two scientists not only display some of the most spectacular specimens, but also give fascinating accounts of the strange life cycles and morphologies of these often ignored arthropods.

About the Author, Arthur V. Evans

Arthur V. Evans is a free-lance author and photographer living in Richmond, VA. Charles L. Bellamy works for the Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory, Calif.
Dept. of Food & Agriculture, Sacramento. Lisa Charles Watson is an award-winning photographer who works in New York City.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

E Magazine

These two scientists not only display some of the most spectacular specimens, but also give fascinating accounts of the strange life cycles and morphologies of these often ignored arthropods.

BBC Wildlife Magazine

Here is the non—specialist's chance to be inspired. Evans' and Bellamy's journey through beetle ecology is everywhere enhanced by Watson's bright pictures of some of nature's most exquisite creatures. Seek fondness, yes; find wonder and awe.

Library Journal

Beetles (Coleoptera) are the most diverse and successful insects that ever lived on Earth. They appeared before the dinosaurs, the ants, or the flies, and today there are more than a quarter million species of them. Their recipe for success? An armored skeleton that protects the entire body, including the flight wings, allowing beetles to enter and flourish in every habitat on Earth. This work introduces the lay reader to these extraordinary creatures through a readable text that conveys the enthusiasm of those who study beetles, and splendid color photographs, by Lisa Charles Watson and others, of more than 220 species. The six chapters cover beetle numbers and diversity, their body plan and functions, their life histories, habits, and defenses, their evolution, their interactions with humans, and their aesthetic importance and conservation. An excellent addition to public libraries. [This title was chosen as one of LJ's Best Reference Books of 1996; see p. 36-40.]Annette Aiello, Smithsonian Tropical Research Inst., Panama

School Library Journal

YAA beautiful and thorough look at the entire realm of beetles including the locales in which they are found, history, anatomy and physiology, and their relationships with humans. The incredible full-color photographs bring readers up close without a magnifying lens at hand, and the seemingly infinite variations within the species due to size, structure, and color are easily seen. Diagrams clarify concepts that could not be photographed. If the outstanding, large, colorful photos do not grab browsers' attention, the opening statement will: "Beetles...representing a fifth of all living organisms...." While the text is scientific, it is very readable. The appendixes supply information not found in other books. While this title will not serve as a guide for identification, it is an excellent resource for naturalists.Gary Fillmore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

Book Details

Published
April 1, 2000
Publisher
University of California Press
Pages
208
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780520223233

More by Arthur V. Evans

Similar books