As we follow the path of a giant water bug or peer over the wing of a gypsy moth, we glimpse our world anew, at once shrunk and magnified. Owing to their size alone, insects’ experience of the world is radically different from ours. Air to them is as viscous as water to us. The predicament of size, along with the dizzying diversity of insects and their status as arguably the most successful organisms on earth, have inspired passion and eloquence in some of the world’s most innovative scientists. A World of Insects showcases classic works on insect behavior, physiology, and ecology published over half a century by Harvard University Press. James Costa, Vincent Dethier, Thomas Eisner, Lee Goff, Bernd Heinrich, Bert Hölldobler, Kenneth Roeder, Andrew Ross, Thomas Seeley, Karl von Frisch, Gilbert Waldbauer, E. O. Wilson, and Mark Winston—each writer, in his unique voice, paints a close-up portrait of the ways insects explore their environment, outmaneuver their enemies, mate, and care for kin. Selected by two world-class entomologists, these essays offer compelling descriptions of insect cooperation and warfare, the search for ancient insect DNA in amber, and the energy economics of hot-blooded insects. They also discuss the impact—for good and ill—of insects on our food supply, their role in crime scene investigation, and the popular fascination with pheromones, killer bees, and fire ants. Each entry begins with commentary on the authors, their topics, and the latest research in the field.

Describes the life cycles, physical characteristics, and behavior of a variety of insects, including the swallowtail butterfly, ant, cricket, and mayfly.

With 2 million board books sold, Hello, World! has become a trusted toddler-and-preschool series. Now there are Hello, World! Kids' Guides, all-new picture books with a higher reading level and a deeper exploration into each topic. In Exploring Insects, readers can learn all about bugs, with pollinators like bees and butterflies, incredible rainforest insects, and even an insect that uses its butt to warn off predators! Insect fans will find: Fascinating details about bugs and how they help the environment. Panels of stats for kids who love data, with information about body parts, diet, location, and more. Questions that ask the reader to think about insects in relation to themselves, such as "If you had wings, where would you fly to?" Loyal Hello, World! fans who are reading on their own, as well as any kid who loves nonfiction, will find many captivating hours of learning and inspiration.

Examines the habitats, characteristics, and behavior of insects, and discusses the strategies they employ to survive in a changing environment.

Most of the animals that walk, fly and burrow about this planet are insects. Whether you are hiking along an ice-cold mountain glacier, tramping through a humid tropical rainforest or simply digging in your own backyard, you will encounter insects. As many as 800,000 different species have already been identified, and scientists claim that from 400 million to 400 billion individuals can make their home in the soil of a farmland meadow.