A fascinating journey into the secret life of insects, with QR codes linked to videos that bring every creature to life.Just as birds have yearly rhythms, so do bees, beetles, butterflies and other insects. Wildlife experts Dominic Couzens and Gail Ashton discover 52 minibeasts from around the world.They tell the story of what is happening week-by-week in the insect world, in our own backyards, window boxes and in hidden corners of our homes. From the daily grind of the house spider building a new web each morning, to the vast appetites of ladybirds, which can devour hundreds of aphids a day, and the glory of the Stag beetle's maiden flight. We delve into the world of the lethal Sydney funnelweb spider in Australian gardens, the migratory mission of the Monarch butterfly in America and the life of the backdoor scorpions in South Africa. In among the seasonal behaviour, the authors have woven history and folklore.These brilliant stories are complemented by wonderful illustrations by Lesley Buckingham that bring out the beauty of the entomological world. A QR code for each entry takes you to a video file to further explore the habits of these intriguing creatures. Revealing the true wonder of our insect neighbours, this book will appeal to all nature lovers.

Dominic Couzens is a British author and journalist specialising in avian and natural history subjects. He contributes regularly to BBC Wildlife magazines; and is also a professional field trip guide. His critically acclaimed books include The Secret Lives of Garden Birds (Guardian wildlife book of the year), The Secret Lives of British Birds (The Times wildlife books of the year), and The Secret Lives of Garden Wildlife. He is also the author of A Bird a Day and A Year of Birdsong, both published by Batsford. He lives in Dorset.Gail Ashton is a highly experienced wildlife photographer and writer with a passion for entomology. She believes it's the little things that makes the world go round. A few years ago she began a year-long project to photograph and document 500 UK invertebrates, which sent her down a path of discovery that has become a passion, and shows in this book. She is also the co-author of the book, An Identification Guide to Garden Insects of Britain and North-West Europe. She lives in Hertfordshire.

Introduction

Sydney Funnel-web Spider
Brimstone Butterfly
Humming Hoverfly
Mayfly
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Springtail
Driver Ant
Cotton Harlequin Bug
Ashy Mining Bee
Peacock Butterfly
Dark-edged Bee-fly
Luna Moth
Pond Skater/Water Strider
Backswimmer
Honey Bee
Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Black Widow spider
Seven Spot Ladybird
German Wasp
Ruby Tailed Wasp
Violet Carpenter Bee
Globe Skimmer
Rose Chafer
Soldier Beetle
Garden Tiger
Dog Day Cicada
Black Ant
Tiger Swallowtail
Stag Beetle
Aphids
Common Froghopper
Elephant Hawk Moth
Marmalade Hoverfly
True Katydid
Fall Field Cricket
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Ivy Bee
Yellow Garden Spider
Monarch Butterfly
Fire Ant
Foam Grasshopper
Green Lacewing
House Spider
Cranefly
Large Yellow Underwing
Garden Spider
Peacock Jumping Spider
Cape Mountain Rifles Bean Beetle
Mantis
Heliconid
Greenbottle
Earwig
Woodlice

Index

Acknowlegements