Discover 52 minibeasts from around the world, one each week of the year, in this fascinating journey into the secret life of insects.
Just as birds have yearly rhythms, so do insects, bees, beetles and butterflies, and they tell the story of what is happening week-by-week in the insect world, in our own backyards and just outside our patio doors. 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 amongst the seasonal behaviour, the authors have woven history and folkloric tales - from Cardinal Wolsey's fear of spiders to how flies can solve murders.
These brilliant stories are complemented by wonderful, commissioned illustrations that bring out the beauty of the entomological world, and the QR code for each one takes you to a video or audio file that really brings the creatures to life. A book for any nature lover to reveal the true wonder of our insect neighbours.
Dominic Couzens has written many books on birds and birdwatching, including two books published by Collins: Identifying Birds by Behaviour and Birds of Britain and Ireland. He is a leader of specialised bird tours both at home and abroad, and is a regular contributor to Birdwatch and BBC Wildlife magazines.