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National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America
National Wildlife Federation’s new all-photographic field guide to North American insects, spiders, and related species, is the most up-to-date of its kind, and lets both amateur and expert naturalists identify more than 940 species quickly and accurately. More than 2,000 close-up color photographs by leading nature photographers reveal the field marks that distinguish each creature, and the clear and concise text that accompanies each image describes the range, habitat, life cycle, and behavior. Budding entomologists will be inspired to explore further with the detailed information on starting a collection, planting an arthropod garden, keeping insects and spiders in captivity, and learning the techniques of macro photography. The unique waterproof cover makes it ideal for use outdoors.
496 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2007
15 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 24, 2020
I have a handful of field guides for insects and butterflies. This one is a favorite and has proven to be helpful in the last few years. It’s organized well and super easy to use.
With that said, my issue is that on more than one occasion I’ve picked it up to locate an insect, and it simply isn’t in the book; for example, the Elm Sawfly. Luckily there are three other sawflies shared which at least brought me to the right family to narrow the identification. We’ve had to jump online numerous times though.
Overall 4****
With that said, my issue is that on more than one occasion I’ve picked it up to locate an insect, and it simply isn’t in the book; for example, the Elm Sawfly. Luckily there are three other sawflies shared which at least brought me to the right family to narrow the identification. We’ve had to jump online numerous times though.
Overall 4****
July 8, 2011
I'm a bug geek. There, I said it. I've been interested in the creepy bastards since I was a kid and I've been photographing them ever since I bought my first digital camera years ago.
Bug books have been hit or miss for me in the past. Either they try to take on too much, are too narrow in scope, or just have unclear pictures. This book is by far the best insect and arachnid guide I've ever read.
Each page has at least two entries on it. The entries are very detailed and the pictures are at a high enough resolution that it's fairly easy to identify the bugs I've photographed in the past. Also, the cover is waterproof in case I need to take this handy little book into the rainforest with me.
As far as insect books go, this one is going to be hard to top. Five out of five stars.
Bug books have been hit or miss for me in the past. Either they try to take on too much, are too narrow in scope, or just have unclear pictures. This book is by far the best insect and arachnid guide I've ever read.
Each page has at least two entries on it. The entries are very detailed and the pictures are at a high enough resolution that it's fairly easy to identify the bugs I've photographed in the past. Also, the cover is waterproof in case I need to take this handy little book into the rainforest with me.
As far as insect books go, this one is going to be hard to top. Five out of five stars.
October 24, 2014
Wow, my second insect field guide, and man I did not know what I was missing. This book works PERFECTLY in junction with Peterson Field Guide to Insects.
I also own (my first)
It would be accurate to say if this were a superhero comic, Wildlife Federation would be the young, dashing, and skilled protagonist; Peterson would be the trusty older sidekick and mentor (depending on the mood), and Kaufman would be the youngest, aspiring, loyal friend.
This comparison can be found on each book's pages here on GR but here we go again:
Kaufman is good for its many pictures mostly consistent in being clear and dorsal view, often differentiation between male and female, and extra white space around the images to annotate if you so wish. It has vague, encompassing descriptions of nearly ever family and order, which is very, very good, but often not as detailed as I hope it to be.
Peterson is an illustrated guide (no pictures- it was first published 40+ years ago) which is perfect identifying and general information about the particular order or family. The illustrations are very pretty but are definitely perfunctory rather than ornate, so don't worry about that. Peterson is your dry-cut guide: no prose, you are given the identifying characteristics, size, origin, and perhaps habitats or habits. Helpful features: arrows on the illustration pointing to every mentioned defining characteristic, a ruler on the inside of the back cover, a couple dichotomous keys, and very pretty and clear diagrams of many things.
Wildlife Federation is my overall favourite :) It's very dense with information and pictures, a good balance. There's a big useful blurb in the introduction, summarizing each of the orders as well as general anatomical and behavioural characteristics of insecta. There's also a good bit about arachnids and other arthropods. There's a healthy 1-2 page blurb about each order, but no blurb about the families! This has to be my biggest bone to pick with Federation, otherwise it would be close to perfect. I'd really like to have more general information about the habits etc of a family as a whole, but this guide does not do that even once. But yeah, otherwise this book is the most comprehensive I'm glad it has three dashes of Arachinda and a pinch each of Entognatha, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Branchiopoda, Malacostraca; because I don't need to know that much, but being able to vaguely identify it is still loads helpful :)
But yeah, each have their own faults and mistakes as well- consult the internet and double check your sources for controversial taxonomy! I've been confused more than once.
Yup I'm still a scrub, but I'm working on it!
I also own (my first)
It would be accurate to say if this were a superhero comic, Wildlife Federation would be the young, dashing, and skilled protagonist; Peterson would be the trusty older sidekick and mentor (depending on the mood), and Kaufman would be the youngest, aspiring, loyal friend.
This comparison can be found on each book's pages here on GR but here we go again:
Kaufman is good for its many pictures mostly consistent in being clear and dorsal view, often differentiation between male and female, and extra white space around the images to annotate if you so wish. It has vague, encompassing descriptions of nearly ever family and order, which is very, very good, but often not as detailed as I hope it to be.
Peterson is an illustrated guide (no pictures- it was first published 40+ years ago) which is perfect identifying and general information about the particular order or family. The illustrations are very pretty but are definitely perfunctory rather than ornate, so don't worry about that. Peterson is your dry-cut guide: no prose, you are given the identifying characteristics, size, origin, and perhaps habitats or habits. Helpful features: arrows on the illustration pointing to every mentioned defining characteristic, a ruler on the inside of the back cover, a couple dichotomous keys, and very pretty and clear diagrams of many things.
Wildlife Federation is my overall favourite :) It's very dense with information and pictures, a good balance. There's a big useful blurb in the introduction, summarizing each of the orders as well as general anatomical and behavioural characteristics of insecta. There's also a good bit about arachnids and other arthropods. There's a healthy 1-2 page blurb about each order, but no blurb about the families! This has to be my biggest bone to pick with Federation, otherwise it would be close to perfect. I'd really like to have more general information about the habits etc of a family as a whole, but this guide does not do that even once. But yeah, otherwise this book is the most comprehensive I'm glad it has three dashes of Arachinda and a pinch each of Entognatha, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Branchiopoda, Malacostraca; because I don't need to know that much, but being able to vaguely identify it is still loads helpful :)
But yeah, each have their own faults and mistakes as well- consult the internet and double check your sources for controversial taxonomy! I've been confused more than once.
Yup I'm still a scrub, but I'm working on it!
August 4, 2013
The first 50 pages covers all of the generalities of insects and spiders and the next 400 pages has excellent photographs and descriptions of hundreds of these "bugs". There is an appendix worth reading that has more general information on starting a collection of dead insects and also information about keeping live insects (think aquarium).
A great book for gardeners and it is available at HCPL!
A great book for gardeners and it is available at HCPL!
December 7, 2019
This pictures and information are awesome
February 2, 2022
Like the one for birds, this is a very comprehensive and colorful guide. If insects and spiders are your thing, then this book is highly recommended.
January 7, 2026
Beautiful insects, perfectly formatted info sections imo. Love the anatomy page too
August 18, 2014
This is a very good and clear guide to insects and arachnids. There are very good introductory pages giving background information on different species and guides to collecting the insects. The photographs are beautiful, and let me repeat, PHOTOGRAPHS. I really hate it when guides use drawn images, they don't give as much detail as the real thing. Come on.
Overall, the information is fantastic, it's clear and organized, and the photos are great.
Overall, the information is fantastic, it's clear and organized, and the photos are great.
October 5, 2015
Best insect field book available for the curious collector who doesn't want to carry around a huge book in the backpack. Great photos and good information on each insect included, very thorough in scope for a small book.
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January 23, 2009595.7 Eva
February 1, 2009
A good beginner's guide, but check out Kaufman's.
March 27, 2011
Though I despise bugs...my curiosity gets the best of me and off I go to this book to look up a new bug!
July 26, 2014
Quality photographs and descriptions for identifying some of the thousands of insect and spider species of North America.
December 1, 2014
Great real-life pictures. Recommended. I would read again.
March 14, 2015
Fantastic field guide! Does not have all species, but most of the common ones!
October 18, 2023
Read 2017
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews