Know your insects with these books

Two new books about insects have recently been launched to fill the gaps on your bookshelves. ❑ Ants of Southern Africa by Peter Slingsby is said to be the first field guide on ants in our region. The book is lavishly illustrated with Philip Herbst ' s macrophotographs, and the best of some 50 more observers from ' iSpot '. Contents include the biology of ants and how to identify them. There are descriptions and illustrations of 225 local species, with notes on a further 400 + species. The descriptions contain a“ how common” ranking, the actual size, the major habitats and the distribution of each specie. There is also a comprehensive index and bibliography. Although passionate about his subject, Peter Slingsby writes with humour, making the book easy to read. Find out about the commonest ant species that are everywhere around you, in your home, your garden and the veld near you using this clear, concise and beautifully illustrated guide. The book has been welcomed as a useful addition to the books on the natural history of southern Africa and it is hoped that it will open eyes and minds to these intriguing and important insects. To order go to http://- www. slingsbymaps. com. You can buy the book on its own for R295 or you can get a package of the book plus a 60x minimicroscope for R332. ❑ If you want to know about the secret world of southern African insects, Insectopedia is the book for you. It uncovers the fascinating and infinitely varied world of insects. It explores their intriguing behaviour and biology- from mating and breeding, metamorphosis and movement to sight, smell, hearing and their adaptations to heat and cold. A chapter on superorganisms probes the curious phenomenon of social communities among insects; another covers the critical role that these creatures play in maintaining the fragile balance of life on our planet. The book concludes with a 60-page illustrated field guide, describing most insect orders and their main families. Previously published as Insectopedia of Southern

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