Insect Detective

A gentle introduction to insects, how to recognise them, where to find them, and above all how to marvel at the ‘strange and wonderful things’ that they do. Steve Voake’s tone is that of a patient guide, just the sort of companion you would hope to have when setting out on an insect hunt, whether for a wood-chomping wasp, a sociable ant, a solitary bee or a Herald moth in hiding. Charlotte Voake’s illustrations, delicate and winsome, are always from a child’s perspective, as though you are down at ground level looking for beetles between the grass stems. Imaginative typography combines to make the pages decorative as well as accessible. There are suggestions for attracting insects to your garden and simple projects such as setting a beetle trap or making a place for solitary bees to nest. A charming first guide to natural history which would sit happily on the bookshelf alongside Charlotte Voake’s A Little Guide to Flowers and A Little Guide to Trees (Eden Project).