Wasps: Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Beneficial Insects and Pollinators of Native Plants

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About Wasps: Their Biology, Diversity, And Role As

Product Description Winner of Six Book Awards2022 American Horticultural Society Book Award2021 National Indie Excellence Award Winner: Nature2021 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist:Environment2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist:Science/Nature2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist:Regional Non-Fiction2021 Independent Publisher Book Award Silver: NatureWASPS  is the first full-color, illustrated guide featuring approximately 150 species of flower-visiting wasps that occur in eastern North America, and the specific native plants and habitat each species depends upon. Written with an ecological lens, this richly-illustrated book details wasp diversity and has full-page profiles for each wasp species that include identification tips, geographic range maps, biology, prey, natural history and habitat. Five introductory chapters cover wasp taxonomy, nesting biology, prey-hunting behaviors, diet, anatomy, as well as wasp habitat enhancement and management, and the ecosystem services provided by wasps--insect pest population control and pollination. Profiles of each wasp species comprise the major part of the book and are organized by family, showcasing twelve families and sixty-eight wasp genera. Also included are eastern North American regional native plant guides, tips on wasp observation, and over 1000 stunning photographs. ​This is an essential book for conservationists, naturalists, insect enthusiasts, biologists, nature photographers, native plant aficionados, and anyone interested in beneficial insects and pollinators. Review Wasps: Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Beneficial Insects and Pollinators of Native Plants   In her latest guide to pollinators, Heather Holm again shows her profound knowledge of insects and skill as a teacher. This time the spotlight is on wasps, a diverse group of insects whose vital ecological roles as predators and pollinators are at odds with their common reputation (among humans!) as pests.   Unlike her previous guides, which were organized by plant, here each section covers a family of wasps, in total covering 150 flower-visiting species from eastern North America. Heather offers a detailed description of each insect's life cycle, nesting habits, nectar forage plants, and more. This along with the beautiful, high-resolution images of each species, make this the go-to resource for understanding and identifying wasps, accessible to the beginner as well as the expert.  - Grow Native Massachusetts  Link to review: grownativemass.org/Great-Resources/best-booksI've long been fascinated by wasps, and have tried to learn what I can, but I've mostly had to do so by hunting down scattered bits of information. Holm's book brings together a wealth of knowledge into one place. In fact, the first thirty pages of her book packs in so much material, I've already read it several times - not because it's poorly written, but because I wanted to absorb it all. She goes through the various categories of wasps and talks about their nesting and hunting strategies, diet selection, and much more. I learned, for example, that some wasps use vibration (like a jackhammer) to excavate nest tunnels. Others carry soil and water separately and then mix them together when constructing aboveground mud nests.  After the terrific introductory chapters, Holm then moves into the main chapters of the books, in which she details the descriptions and lives of several hundred wasps. That's only a small selection of North America's wasps, of course, but it covers many of the common species most of us will see around us. The book focuses mainly on aculeate wasps (narrow waisted wasps) because, I assume, doing any more would make the book too heavy to lift. It's a hefty book as is, but not in a way anyone could complain about.  One of the delightful discoveries I made through Holm's book is that many wasp names are basically short stories that include both physical description and life history o