First published in 1993, completely rewritten, this second edition includes a list of all 210 countries of the world and all of the islands, with comments on the existence of insect and spider collections, both public and private. These listings are arranged alphabetically by country, state/province, and city, with private collections listed under the public collection with which they are registered. Part II of the directory is an alphabetical list of the codes assigned to each of the collections described in Part I. This list is also cross-referenced to variations of the codes used in other works, which will eliminate any confusion over this duplication. This classic work provides a ready reference to all collections and is required by all insect and spider systematists.

Jonathan Edwards compared a person dangling a spider over a hearth to God holding a sinner over hellfire in his most famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Here, spiders and insects preach back. No voice, no matter how mighty, drowns all others. Grace, human failings, and extraordinary convictions combine unexpectedly in this New England tale.

What would you do if you were reincarnated in a fantasy world as four spiders?