Insect Books for Special People

Not everyone will be so inspired as to study insects in enough detail to make meaningful contributions to conservation. But if you're at all curious, these handsome and wise volumes could give you a start. 

As with plants or birds, no one will know which insects are heading towards Endangered status unless someone is on the lookout. Other insects may turn out to be "indicator species" that will provide hints of challenges like acid rain, global climate change, or DDT poisoning - in time to find remedies. 

Or perhaps you'd just like to support native pollinators on your property through planting the wildflowers that will attract and nourish them. 

In either case, these books are designed for you. (And you're an unusual person. Would that there were more!)

First consider Heather Holm's guide to Wasps and the plants they need:

It starts with five intro chapters on wasp nesting behavior, hunting techniques, and ecosystem services provided by wasps (pollination and insect pest control). Then it covers in interesting detail an intimidating 12 families, 68 genera, and Lord knows how many species, with photos, range maps, and notes on what plants they pollinate and protect. 

Even more unexpected is a beautiful book on true flower bugs (Heteroptera) by Illinois Nature Preserves staffer Angella Moorehouse. 

This one, from the same publisher, also has accessible detail on every page.

Next comes a guide to bees:

This one may have special interest to folks who plant flowers in their yards and would like to support the health of pollinator populations. It includes a "native plant library" with 100 native trees, shrubs, and perennials that support bees in the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions. And to give you a start on studying and understanding them it also has "in-depth profiles of 27 bee genera covering the life cycles, habitats, diet, foraging behaviors, crops pollinated, nesting lifestyles, seasonality, and preferred native forage plants."
 

All these and many more fine resources are available from The Pollination Press.