Insect Safari
Exploring the Wondrous World of Everyday Bugs
Contributors
Buy from Other Retailers:
- On Sale
- Jun 2, 2026
- Page Count
- 288 pages
- Publisher
- Workman Publishing Company
- ISBN-13
- 9781523533060
When science writer Margie Patlak was inspirited to take a quick close-up snapshot of a bee in her backyard, it was the start of a years-long obsession with cataloging and understanding the tiny creatures that were all around her. The essays in her book showcase the superpowers, alien anatomies, and striking untold behaviors and thinking abilities of bugs hidden in plain sight in backyards, parks, gardens, and even in the flowerpots that dot city courtyards and balconies. Each essay focuses on a specific bug and explores the big ideas these little bugs raise, such as whether the maternal instinct is truly instinctual, the value of a short life, whether to blend in or alter your environment, and whether you can have altruism without tribal atrocities.
But what perhaps makes Insect Safari the most intriguing is its reporting on the plethora of recent scientific findings revealing there’s more to the inner lives and behaviors of insects than people ever thought possible. Who knew wasps use tools and recognize faces, bees play with balls and do math, ants invented farming way before we did, and even fruit flies mull over their mating choices?
These findings reinforce the notion that we aren’t the only intelligent beings on Earth and tap into people’s curiosity about the alien life right here on their own planet.
Genre:
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“Count me in on this safari! You don’t have to travel to Africa to witness strange and glorious animals in the midst of breathtaking behaviors close at hand. Margie Patlak shows that you need not leave your own yard (or in some cases even your house!) to find drama, beauty, and wonder in the insect world. Safari njema!”
—Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus and Of Time and Turtles.
“Insect Safari unveils the breathtaking world of bugs through vivid storytelling and stunning discoveries, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary encounters. Margie Patlak’s inviting and engaging voice inspires curiosity, wonder, and a deeper appreciation for the vibrant insect universe surrounding us every day.”
—Stephen Buchmann, author of What a Bee Knows
“Wonder bursts from these pages. Vivid prose and gorgeous photography celebrate the diversity and sophistication of insects, and invite us to further discovery. Margie Patlak reminds us that rapt attention to everyday creatures reveals marvels on our doorsteps.”
—David George Haskell, biologist and two-time Pulitzer-finalist author of How Flowers Made our World, Sounds Wild and Broken, The Songs of Trees, and The Forest Unseen.
“Margie Patlak’s infectious enthusiasm for her topic made it all the more captivating, and had me thinking she enjoyed writing it as much as I did reading it. Read it yourself and you’ll never look at your backyard the same way again.”
—Jonathan Balcombe, author of Super Fly, and What a Fish Knows
“Under all of our noses is a world of insects, whose lives are as strange and fascinating as they are largely overlooked. Margie Patlak's Insect Safari takes the reader through this hidden yet accessible world of parasitic wasps, jewel-like sweat bees, moths that pretend to be bird poop, dancing flies, singing crickets and more — a tapestry of wonder just beyond the door.”
—Scott Weidensaul, author of The Return of the Oystercatcher and A World on the Wing.
“Our world is one of the six-legged. Yet, we are wildly unfamiliar with insects and scarcely give them notice. Taking us through explorations of even the nearest surroundings, Margie Patlak demonstrates the wonder, discovery, and beauty of insects and that learning of their lives can change ours. If we take the time to look with care and listen calmly, the most amazing experiences await us.”
—Michael S. Engel, entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History and author of Innumerable Insects.
“Uncommonly well-researched, unusually well-written, and unexpectedly entertaining, Margie Patlak’s Insect Safari is a delightful read for seasoned naturalists and curious laymen alike.”
—Doug Tallamy, Entomologist, Ecologist, Author
Formats and Prices
Price
$19.99Price
$25.99 CADFormat
Format:
- Trade Paperback $19.99 $25.99 CAD
- ebook $12.99 $16.99 CAD
