Jungle Bugs in the Night Scientific Adventure in the Tropical Forests of the World

About this book

This beautifully illustrated book comprises 297 photos of living insects and spiders, demonstrating a little known aspect of entomology for there exists no popular literature treating the nocturnal activities of these fascinating creatures. Few have had the time - or courage - to carry a camera quietly through the jungle at night. The text and photos introduce the reader to the various types of tropical forest and their smaller inhabitants. A chapter illustrates the many ways in which one may observe nocturnal life in the jungle, and the special techniques necessary to photograph bugs and vegetation in these dripping forests. Together with its photos, this book will be of considerable interest to nature photographers. Two chapters are devoted to the more unexpected facets of nocturnal life: colour, structure and, especially, behaviour, aspects which are rarely - if ever - treated in text-books.

Photography of these reclusive creatures has involved many patient hours of standing and sitting quietly within the darkened forests of Australia, New Guinea, Malaysia, Madagascar, West Africa, Central America and, especially, Amazonia. Observation has involved many long nights, from sunset to dawn, at altitudes varying from sea-level to 4000 meters, at temperatures ranging from 30 Degrees to near zero. The variety and behaviour of jungle bugs under these highly variable conditions give the reader a very good insight into the private lives of these creatures.

Contents

Preface Chapter 1: An introduction to the jungle & its night-life Chapter 2: Observing Jungle Bugs in the Night Chapter 3: The incredible Diversity of Jungle Bugs Chapter 4: Nocturnal behaviour of Jungle Bugs Chapter 5: Strange bugs in the night Chapter 6: Jungle Bugs all through the Night Epilogue:A plea for the bugs Glossary

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