"The large, handsome illustrations teem with close-up naturaldetail and offer thrills or (depending on the sensibility of the viewer) chillsaplenty.a treat for outdoorsy sorts."--KirkusReviews Visitthe wonderful world of insects, including ants, ladybugs, butterflies, bees,beetles, snails and spiders. Peek through thedie-cut pages of this stunning book to quietly observe ten of the most surprisinginsects on our planet. Hidden by lush foliage, these extraordinary speciesaren't easy to find in the wild-- and you will have to look very closely to findthem inside this book, too. Excerpt: Ladybugs are one of the most endearing insectsof all. They stand out because of their vibrant color and the bold spots thatcover their backs. These spots fade with time, so you can if a ladybug is youngor old by looking at the vibrancy of their markings.

Of the over 6,000 species ofladybugs that exist, not all of them have spots. The ones that do are the luckyones, as their eye-catching colors frighten away predators who think they mustbe poisonous. Ladybugs, who are excellent climbers, always choose the bestfruit trees and can feast on them without worrying about being bothered orattacked. They are also important in maintaining ecological balance, as theycan prevent infestations of other insects.