"Great news!! Ladybugs of Alberta is out in print. This magnificent book by our very own John Acorn is published by University of Alberta Press and is available ($29.95) at http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=682. John treats all 75 species of ladybugs in Alberta, including the little tiny ones that few people ever notice.

This is more than three times as many species as his two other books in the series (Tiger Beetles and Damselflies) and the book is packed with plenty of original information that clearly makes this John''s most scholarly book to date. The style is highly readable, with excellent sections not only on the identification and life history of ladybugs (=ladybird beetles), but also thought-provoking essays on the way in which we think about "alien invaders" and use ladybugs in gardening. This is the first popular guide ever produced on ladybugs in North America, and is sure to have a huge impact well outside of Alberta. Ladybugs of Alberta is a treat all around. No one interested in natural history, entomology, gardening, or integrated pest management should be without it." Felix Sperling, Curator, E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, University of Alberta "''Ladybugs are one of Alberta''s most charismatic species for a simple reason,'' says biologist John Acorn.

''They''re simply cute!''. More specifically, ladybugs have rounded contours, short legs, big eyes and wonderful colour patterns. Between species, ladybugs vary-most are red with black spots but others are black, orange, pink and yellow in colour. And their names, such as the lugubrious ladybug, the twice-stabbed ladybug and the poorly known ladybug, are just as diverse. Acorn''s book is filled with information about each and photos." Caitlin Crawshaw, Folio, May 11, 2007 "Words cannot express our joy!! We who are ''nature nuts'' are bugged out about this new book. The staff here at the Police Point Nature Centre just can not wait to get our hands on the new book, and start checking out all the ''ladies.''" Valerie Martins, Nature Interpreter, Medicine Hat Interpretive Program "This sort of book represents a real sea-change in entomology, and your ladybug book is sure to stimulate a whole new generation of bugwatchers.

" Steven Marshall, Professor, Environmental Biology, University of Guelph "John, thanks for another great natural history book! Whether or not you''re a ''beetle guy or gal,'' John Acorn is worth a read. Science can be fun! So can conservation." Dan Stoker "Hercules, blotch-backed, twice-stabbed, once squashed and flying saucer. The names are as evocative as they are unusual and an interesting if not surprising factoid in the world of the insects we know as ''ladybugs''. After reading Acorn''s newest book, number three in his Alberta insect series, it is impossible to walk away thinking that the red ladybugs with the distinctive black dots are the end-all be-all of ladybugs. While they may be the more common ladybugs found in this region, saying ''seen one, seen ''em all'', is so far from the truth it''s like saying all alpine wildflowers are the same. In fact, the range and size of ladybugs is staggering. Some ladybugs are tiny, like the micro ladybug at 1.

0 millimetre, and about the thickness of dime, while others are massive (at least by ladybug standards), like the wonderfully-named mealybug destroyer at 4.5 mm. They also come in a broad range of colours and patterns, beyond the red-and-black. Some are entirely black or, like the twice-stabbed ladybug, black with a red dot on each wing cover." Rob Alexander, Rocky Mountain Outlook, May 24, 2007 John Acorn will talk about bugs at the Ellis Bird Farm Bug Jamboree, August 11, 2007. "As an author, John has incredible interpretive ability and his latest book explores an attractive yet poorly covered group-the ladybugs. This book abounds with John''s excellent photographs as well as his engaging and entertaining writing style. ''Introduced Ladybugs and Conservation,'' is an exceptional piece on introduced species and how the effects on the native fauna can be overblown.

He also presents a fresh perspective about how non-native species are demonized that I think all naturalists should read. Overall this is a book that should be on every naturalist''s bookshelf whether or not they consider themselves entomologists. It is a rare example of a book that has the ability to inspire young and old to become ''Nature Nuts''." Jason J. Dombroskie, Blue Jay, June 2007 "Have you ever dressed your child as a centipede for Halloween? Would you patronize a gardening store with a ten-foot fibreglass horsefly as its mascot? Would you delight in watching a grasshopper crawl up your arm? Likely not. But if I was instead speaking of ladybugs, it might be different. University of Alberta entomologist John Acorn begins Ladybugs of Alberta by exploring our rare affinity for ladybugs. The bulk of this field guide consists of colourful, detailed photos, illustrations and descriptions.

But Ladybugs is more than a handy insect identifier; as the author notes, it''s the first North American guide to ladybugs. Acorn writes passionately about ladybug life cycles and current ladybug research and even delves into some of the controversies surrounding invasive vs. native species. Acorn has an interesting take: ''The term "native" has no real meaning in biology,'' he writes. There is no such thing as ''the way nature intended.'' Acorn''s exploration of a controversial topic gives this book unexpected depth." Evan Osenton, Alberta Views, September 2007 "A few years ago I discovered that if I put a John Acorn book in an obvious place in my living room, it almost always got picked up and read by other members of my family. I can easily visualize myself with my grandson this summer catching ladybugs, counting their spots and then running for John Acorn''s book to see what the bug''s name is.

We''ve already done the same exercise with damselflies. I can hardly wait until Acorn comes out with an itsy-bitsy spider book." Susan Jones, St. Albert Gazette, May 16, 2007 "John Acorn''s Ladybugs of Alberta is an elegantly produced and welcome addition to the bookshelf of popular guides on Coleoptera. It is beautifully designed, printed on glossy and durable paper stock, robustly perfect-bound, and printed in colour throughout. There are many excellent photographs (mostly taken by Acorn) and colour drawings of each species. The layout and design of the book is clear, well considered, and engaging. At 6" and 9" trim-size it is plausibly ''field guide'' sized, yet attractive enough that it could pass as a coffee-table book.

All in all, this book is a notable achievement." Christopher Majka, The Coleopterists Bulletin, Vol. 61, September 2007 "Seventy-five species of ladybugs are documented with illustrations.John reveals his talent for making learning about nature fun.Beautiful beetles and provocative philosophy--What more could you want from a field guide?!" Sarah McPike, Nature Alberta, Fall 2007 "In the third volume of his series, Acorn (U. of Alberta) presents the only popular guide to ladybugs in any region of North America. He describes a ladybug''s life and the historic and current study of ladybugs in Alberta, and discusses introduced ladybugs and conservation. The final chapters survey the lesser and the larger of the 75 species, providing information on the meaning and pronunciation of the names, identification, distribution, and other matters.

Color photographs abound, and a complete gallery of ladybugs with relevant page numbers acts as an index." SciTech Book News 2007 "Ladybird beetles, affectionately and commonly called ladybugs, are revered for their aphid-eating prowess. ''They just walk up to them and eat them like a little green hamburger,'' John Acorn [said]." Henneke Brooymans, Edmonton Journal, March 9, 2008 "Not only does John Acorn''s most recent book, Ladybugs of Alberta showcase some of Alberta''s most charismatic beetles, but it also draws attention (and question) to some of the issues at the forefront of conservation today. Whichever of these reasons makes you pick up the book, you won''t be disappointed." Sarah McPike, Nature Alberta, Fall 2007 "This is much more than just a guide to identification of Coccinellidae in Alberta. It introduces the reader to the natural history of the group, to ecological aspects of invasive species, and to Acorn''s slightly quirky sense of humor, along with providing excellent photographic illustrations (most by Acorn himself) of the various species and a convenient set of ''galleries'' allowing a quick comparison of what you might have found in your net (or your bottle, or on your shirt). Although the title suggests the focus of the book is Alberta, Acorn''s general chapters, and particularly the distribution maps showing all of North America, insure a broader appeal.

Readers in the Great Plains states and the prairie provinces will certainly find this a useful reference. The fact that this appears to be the first popular book treating this group in North America suggest it may gain an even wider audience. Other topics the author addresses will be of great interest to gardeners, naturalists, and simply the curious. As usual, Acorn has done a particularly good job of translating the dry prose of scientific literature to allow one to understand what has and hasn''t been demonstrated through experimental work." R.W. Longair, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Great Plains Research, Vol. 18, No.

2, Fall 2008 "This is an important book about insects for naturalists. It has field credibility. Acorn reviewed and understands the writings of the experts on lady beetle identification and ecology in North America. Acorn studied the specimens that collectors in Alberta deposited in collections. But most.