Book Description
With perhaps 8,000 different species, beetles are easily the largest group of animals in California and can be found virtually everywhere in the state. They grapple over flower heads, lurk in pantries, paddle through pristine mountain streams, amble over dunes, and buzz about porch lights on warm evenings. But until now, there was no single resource for identifying the most commonly encountered beetles in California's mountains, valleys, and deserts. This valuable field guide, a companion volume to Introduction to California Beetles published in 2004, identifies more than 500 of the state's more conspicuous and colorful species, with the majority presented in stunning color photographs. Written and designed for amateur naturalists, students, and field biologists, it is chock-full of what every beetle watcher wants to know, including suggestions for finding beetles, starting a beetle collection, and keeping beetles in captivity. The informative, accessibly written species accounts include information on beetle identification, natural history, and distribution.
¥ Features 300 color photographs, 110 drawings, and 2 maps
¥ Covers 569 species in 56 families
¥ Lists California's sensitive, threatened, and endangered species
¥ Provides resources and web sites for further study of California beetles
Book Description
The California Tortoiseshell, West Coast Lady, Red Admiral, and Golden Oak Hairstreak are just a few of the many butterfly species found in the floristically rich San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley regions. This guide, written for both beginning and experienced butterfly watchers by one of the nation's best-known professional lepidopterists, provides thorough, up-to-date information on all of the butterfly species found in this diverse and accessible region. Written in lively prose, it discusses the natural history and conservation status for these butterflies and at the same time provides an integrated view of butterfly biology based on studies conducted in northern California and around the world. Compact enough for use in the field, the guide also includes tips on butterfly watching, photography, gardening, and more.
* Discusses and identifies more than 130 species
* Species accounts include information on identifying butterflies through behavior, markings, and host plants
* Beautiful full-color plates illustrate top and bottom views of wings for easier identification
* Includes a species checklist and a glossary
Customer Reviews:
Field Guide to Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions.......2007-07-09
I had been eagerly anticipating the release of this book for months but must admit to being disappointed upon reading through it. Finally I thought, A Butterfly Book written specifically for the region I live in! This is a "Me Too" book about butterflies at best. The Best part of this book I admit is the introduction. Beyond that, there is really nothing new and the butterfly information would make anyone yawn for lack of any new substance.
Fabulous detail while down to earth.......2007-05-21
Best known for his prolific hard science publications on butteflies, Arthur M. Shapiro helps lead an elite branch of 21st century scientists and critical thinkers studying butterfly biology. With increasing genetic and biological sophistication they study what constitutes a species, the complex relationships between different butterfly populations, the unusual evolutionarily conserved reactions in butterfly phenotype to cooler and warmer weather, and all sorts of esoteric, peer journal debated theory in butterfly biology............but not here.
Instead, I was delighted to find a very accessable, well written, good natured and often humorous field guide, to the butterflies of the bay area, written by this scientist.
The treatment of individual species is stunningly detailed, and the plates illustrating the species are just fine, and logically organized (e.g the blue copper is with similar looking blues for comparison, rather than the coppers).
In addition, all sorts of useful specific information about finding butterflies, rearing larvae, butterfly gardening, and things to do with butterflies is layed out in the tightly written text.
As might be expected for a veteran UC Davis thesis professor, Arthur M. Shapiro does touch on big emerging or ongoing debates in butterfly biology, but in an easy introductory way, without the traditional academic qualification of every aspect of every point proposed. These debates can be quite interesting, too. A troubling trend toward declining California butterfly numbers is examined in some detail.
Overall this book is a masterpiece, which colorfully details countless discoveries in butterfly natural history. It's a real joy to read. I definitely recommend it.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2006-11-06
Excellent illustrations, my kids love it. Would like a bit more in-depth info, but then again, that might make the book a lot bigger...love it!
easy to use and informative.......2003-07-20
I just got this guide last month. It has bright attractive illustrations and was an immediate hit with my kids and me. We didn't know much to start with, but this guide has a picture index in the front that makes it easy to find the mystery bug. For us, it helps that we don't need to know taxonomy. Because it is region specific, we don't have to waste a lot of time wading through all the bugs we're unlikely to see anyway--I assume this is something like the "top 100" of local bugs, so just about everything I see in the book looks familiar. I also like that the book provides a little narrative about each bug, not just its name, so we feel like we're really learning something. I suspect it's not big enough for all the bugs we'll come across, but so far it is serving us well by wetting our appetite.
Average customer rating:
- The Perfect Field Guide
- A Wonderful Pocket Guide!
- A valuable field guide. Easy to use. Great photographs.
- FIVE STAR PLUS
- Great, easy to use book
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Common Dragonflies of California : A Beginner's Pocket Guide
Kathy Biggs
Manufacturer: Azalea Creek Publishing
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Dragonflies and Damselflies of California
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Butterflies of North America
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Common Dragonflies of the Southwest
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Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies
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Bugs of Northern California
ASIN: 0967793408 |
Book Description
Learn how to identify the dragonflies and damselflies you see in your yards and on your outings
- softbound (laminated cover), 96 pages
- fits in your pocket (5.75" X 4.5")
- dragonflies and damselflies included
- 77 species covered: 6 family pages with live scanned dragonflies; 58 species pages with photos; 2 pages with anatomical sketches; species paired by similarities
- sizes (including a a bold line the length of the dragonfly), descriptions, comparisons, habitats, flight periods, behavior, distribution
- includes a checklist of all CA species
- 119 color photos/scans, inc. some nymph
The book has a companion website showing ALL of California's Dragonflies with distribution maps, which are updated twice yearly. The website contains additional information on each speices and has links to CalOdes, the California dragonfly discussion group, sightings within the state, and updated flight periods as well as addtional photos of all species.
Customer Reviews:
The Perfect Field Guide.......2001-11-03
As a beginner in the study of these fascinating and beautiful creatures, I found this book clear, concise, and easy to understand and use. The text is simple and complete, and the illustrations are excellent. The small size of the volume makes it fit easily into your pocket for quick reference. Anyone interested in dragonflies will find the book an absolute MUST!
A Wonderful Pocket Guide!.......2001-05-08
Common Dragonflies of California is an uncommon book. Full of sound advice and chock full of excellent color photos, this book will be of great interest to any California nature lover. I am the kind of person who loves to know the name of every tree, shrub, flower, reptile, bird and fish that I see. Now that I have this little jewel, I'm going to learn how to identify the dragonflies too. The more we learn about nature, the more enjoyment we get from it. I highly recommend this fine book! I expect it would make a great present too, for the right person. Tom Ogren, author of Allergy-Free Gardening
A valuable field guide. Easy to use. Great photographs........2001-01-25
This is really nice field guide to have. The photographs are great. Each entry is succint and includes one or two photographs together with a bold line the length of the dragonfly and printed in one of the dominant colors of the dragonfly. There is a checklist in the back so that you can keep track of what you see, and the introductory information in the front of the book is well-written. Though I bought this book for myself, I think that it also would make a great field guide for a child since the book is small, easy to use, and the photos are clear and attractive. It is well worth the price.
FIVE STAR PLUS.......2000-08-30
An awesome book! Easy to use with great photos. You'll never view dragonflies the same again.
At this price point it makes for an awesome gift...especially for all those kids you're trying to get turned on to nature instead of video games. After all - let's face it - dragonflies are way cooler than birding and all that other boring "outdoorsie" kinda stuff! (well at least according to kids who think birding is boring)
I highly recommend it. Now if we can just get her to do guides for some of the other states.....
Great, easy to use book.......2000-07-10
I thought it would be tough to ID Dragonflies but with this book it has been suprisingly easy. Now if they would just hold still for the binculars!
Book Description
This book is the best-ever practical guide to the identification and biology of beneficial organisms that control pests. Growers, pest control advisers, landscape professionals, home gardeners, pest management teachers and students, and anyone fascinated by natural enemies and their prey will want this book to find, identify, and use natural enemies to control pests in almost any agricultural crop, garden, or landscape.
The Natural Enemies Handbook is superbly illustrated with 180 high-quality color photographs and 140 expertly rendered drawings, showing hundreds of predators, parasites, and pathogens that attack pest insects, mites, nematodes, plant pathogens, and weeds. The handy Quick Guide allows readers to locate natural enemies that they are likely to find on almost any crop or in the garden and landscape. They can then go to the main text for clear, detailed information.
Natural enemies are organisms that kill, decrease the reproductive potential, or otherwise reduce the numbers of other organisms. Biological control is the practical use of natural enemies to manage pests. Living natural enemies are the agents of biological control. Virtually every pest has natural enemies that reduce its populations under certain circumstances. The book features chapters on biological control of plant pathogens, nematodes, and weeds as well as individual chapters on parasites, predators, and pathogens of arthropods.
References, suppliers, and a comprehensive index make this an indispensable source book. The up-to-date review of applied biological control literature will appeal to scholars.
Customer Reviews:
Biological Pest Control handbook.......2007-01-09
This is a great reference for anyone interested in biological pest control...lots of great photos for reference. Great price for anyone's home library.
Average customer rating:
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Butterfly Fever (Science Solves It!)
Lori Haskins
Manufacturer: Kane Press
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Binding: Paperback
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Picky Peggy (Science Solves It!)
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The Rainbow Mystery (Science Solves It!)
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Buried in the Back Yard (Science Solves It!)
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It Came from Outer Space (Science Solves It!)
ASIN: 1575651343 |
Customer Reviews:
:).......2005-04-15
This is a fun book for teaching about the migration of Monarchs and other facts about butterflies.
Book Description
The Exclamation Damsel, Bison Snaketail, Powdered Dancer, Black Meadowhawk, and Sedge Sprite are just a few of the dragonflies and damselflies identified in this complete guide to California's abundant Odonates.
o Species accounts discuss identification in the field and in the hand, behavior, habitat associations, geographic distribution, and flight season
o Includes 40 vivid full-color plates and supplemental black-and-white drawings
o Provides a general overview of dragonfly anatomy, behavior, life history, and a complete set of range maps
Customer Reviews:
Not Just For California!.......2004-02-11
This is a really neat and very reasonably priced book on dragonflies and damselflies. I liked it from the first time I saw it. The color illustrations are great and with the short descriptions are very helpful for identifying the families, genera and species. The size of the book is also just right for transport into the field.
I checked the book against our list for New Mexico and found that close to 1/2 of our dragonflies and damselflies are described! The handbook should thus be useful in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon and northwestern Mexico, as well as the target- California.
For the price and quality the dragonfly and damselfly enthusiast in the Southwest could not find a better field reference!
A "MUST HAVE" for every naturalist and budding entomologist.......2003-09-12
Anyone in California (or visiting California) who has ever shown any interest in dragonflies and/or damselflies should own this wonderful new book! It not only contains traditional keys to the insect families of both adults and larvae, but also a well-written narrative about the behavior and life cycle of these ancient and most interesting creatures. If you are one who prefers to "picture key" your way to an identification, that is possible, as well, thanks to Tim Manolis's beautiful color illustrations. If you are looking at this book, don't hesitate...buy it...you won't be sorry!
A MUST HAVE.......2003-03-31
Tim has done for Odes what Roger Tory Peterson did for birds!!! This is a must have for the Odesters in California.....
Book Description
California has a vast number of insect species: estimates run 30,000-35,000 or more, and even in the better known groups, new species occasionally are discovered. This volume is the first attempt in more than half a century to summarize knowledge of this rich insect fauna, and the first work ever to provide a field guide for beginning students, and the nonspecialist reader. It selects about 600 of the more characteristic kinds of insects to represent the huge variety known. Most of these are conspicuous kinds often noticed in cities or in natural areas by gardeners, hikers, fishermen, etc. For each insect, distinguishing features of its appearance, features of its biology, and its geographical distribution in California are summarized: and an illustration (photograph or drawing) is given of the adult or some other stage.
California Insects will serve as a convenient, compact introduction to the identification and understanding of these often strange and fascinating creatures. Used with other information sources cited in the text, it provides the student, collector, or naturalist a means of efficiently developing knowledge of specialized groups of insects.
Customer Reviews:
An enjoyable read for Californians.......2006-08-09
Having mastered Bugs of Northern California, the perfect local book for beginners, I was ready to move on, and this book is the perfect next step--limited to California, but still very complete. There is one set of color plates, so those expecting color photos for every bug will be disappointed. However, what I love are the descriptions--they are well written and very informative. Even limited to California, there are more flies than I will ever be able to identify, yet the descriptions of their differences are still fascinating.
Average customer rating:
- Insects of the Los Angeles Basin by Charles L. Hogue
- So much more than a reference book!
- Face Your Fear!
- Insects in L.A.
- Great Indentification Guide
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Insects of the Los Angeles Basin
Charles L. Hogue
Manufacturer: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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California Insects (California Natural History Guides)
ASIN: 0938644297 |
Customer Reviews:
Insects of the Los Angeles Basin by Charles L. Hogue.......2005-10-05
Great reference, and the only of its kind. Sadly it is out of print though still readily available for an elevated price moast of the time. The only "substitute" is Dr. Hogue's other California Insects book for the whole state. If you see either cheap buy it and donate it to your local High School Biology teacher!
So much more than a reference book!.......2004-07-26
My wife knew I wanted this book as a reference guide to the insects in our house and yard, so she surprised me with it on our anniversary. It made a wonderful gift! When I'd seen it at the bookstore, I hadn't had time to do anything but skim the pages, and so I was pleasantly surprised to find it's actually a readable book. I never thought I'd read a book on insects cover to cover, but this one I finished in a few days (even the chapter on Ticks and Mites).
Most reference books -- you know, the North American Guide to Seashells or whatever -- are dense and hard to use, with keys and indices and all the pictures collected onto the fewest number of pages possible, to save printing costs. But this book has pictures or drawings of every insect listed, right next to its listing. And while it doesn't cover every insect of the LA basin -- no book could -- I've yet to find one that isn't in this book.
But what really sets this book apart is the writing. Charles Hogue was the entomology curator at the LA Natural History Museum until his death in 1992. Surely, he had hundreds or thousands of people bring in pictures or specimens, asking, What is this? And he's written a book for that type of people, those who would never study entomology, but would notice and wonder at some unusual bug.
As you wend your way through the chapters, Hogue anticipates what you might find interesting, what you might ask, and he's right there with some details or answers. He'll mention how Belkin's Chigger played a role in a murder investigation in Ventura County, or recount how Black Witch moth (with a wingspan of 6 to 7 inches) was common around the Coliseum during the 84 Olympics, even though you won't find its caterpillars in the basin.
It's fun reading about dragonflies and whatnot. It's fun learning that the daddy longlegs in your cupboard isn't a daddy longlegs at all, it's a cobweb spider. It's not so much fun reading about earwigs. But telling your friends that earwigs can fly, and that the tubular lawn furniture on their patio might be housing large populations of them? That's great fun.
After reading this book, I knew I had to get on Amazon and give it a five star review. How nice that so many other people beat me to it!
Face Your Fear!.......2001-05-22
If you want to know more than just the names and habitat of Southern California insects, then this is the book for you. If the insect is non-native, what is its origin and when was it introduced? If it stings or bites, what does it feel like and does the toxin affect the nerves like a black widow or just dissolve the local tissue like a brown recluse? Do they jump or dart? Why is it always showing up in a certain room or part of the yard? "Insects of the Los Angeles Basin" will answer these questions. Read this book and become the lone rational mind in a roomful of hysterical screaming humans recoiling from the sight of one of these magnificent little creatures.
Insects in L.A........2000-08-21
A magnificent book. Hogue details all of the more important insect species, and some the of the lesser known, as well. Did you know that L.A. is home to 3 species of fireflies? There are numerous photos, black and white, and color, along with several line drawings.
Great Indentification Guide.......2000-06-02
There are pictures of every insect (and spider) featured, and this makes it very useful in identifying the critters in the yard.
Books:
- Field Guide to Coastal Wetland Plants of the Southeastern United States
- Field Guide to Old-Growth Forests: Exploring Ancient Forest Ecosystems from California to the Pacific Northwest
- Flow Cytometry: First Principles
- Fossil Collecting in the Mid-Atlantic States: With Localities, Collecting Tips, and Illustrations of More than 450 Fossil Specimens
- Foundations of Tropical Forest Biology: Classic Papers with Commentaries
- From So Simple a Beginning: Darwin's Four Great Books (Voyage of the Beagle, The Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals)
- Geoenvironmental Engineering: Site Remediation, Waste Containment, and Emerging Waste Management Techonolgies
- God and the Embryo: Religious Voices on Stem Cell and Cloning
- Hell's Belles (Hell On Earth: Book 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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