Nick Baker - Nick Bakers Bug Book

This electronic edition published in 2015 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

First published in 2006 by New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd

50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP

Copyright 2015 text by Nick Baker

Copyright 2015 photographs as credited below and on

The moral right of Nick Baker has been asserted.

All rights reserved
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN (print) 978-1-4729-1379-1

ISBN (ePub) 978-1-4729-2209-0

ISBN (ePDF) 978-1-4729-2210-6

Front cover: Shutterstock

Back cover: Tony Cobley Photography, www.tonycobley.com

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The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts are the UKs largest people-powered organisation caring for all nature rivers, bogs, meadows, forests, seas and much more. We are 47 Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK with a shared mission to restore nature everywhere we can and to inspire people to value and take action for nature for future generations.

Together we care for thousands of wild places that are great for both people and wildlife. These include more than 760 woodlands, 500 grasslands and even 11 gardens. On average youre never more than 17 miles away from your nearest Wildlife Trust nature reserve, and most people have one within 3 miles of their home. To find your nearest reserve, visit wildlifetrusts.org/reserves, or download our free Nature Finder iPhone app from the iTunes store. You can also find out about the thousands of events and activities taking place across the UK from bug hunts and wildplay clubs to guided walks and identification courses on the app or at wildlifetrusts.org/whats-on

We work to connect children with nature through our inspiring education programmes and protect wild places where children can spend long days of discovery. We want children to go home with leaves in their hair, mud on their hands and a little bit of nature in their heart. Find out more about our junior membership branch Wildlife Watch and the activities, family events and kids clubs you can get involved with at wildlifewatch.org.uk

Our goal is natures recovery on land and at sea. To achieve this we rely on the vital support of our 800,000 members, 40,000 volunteers, donors, corporate supporters and funders. To find the Wildlife Trust that means most to you and lend your support, visit wildlifetrusts.org/your-local-trust

The Wildlife Trusts

The Kiln, Mather Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire

NG24 1WT

t: 01636 677711

e:

Registered Charity No 207238

wildlifetrusts.org

Find us on

Twitter @wildlifetrusts

Facebook facebook.com/wildlifetrusts

Contents

Introduction

If youre irritating your family, annoying the cat or just plain bored, then Ive got some therapy for you. All around us are marvellous mini-beasts that are completely overlooked. Get down and dirty your knees and those dots with legs and wings become tottering robots and oozing aliens. Its not science fiction, its science fact! And it can all be seen in the average park or garden.

These creatures fight battles with amazing weapons, nasty chemicals and terrific tactics. Their weird and colourful world is full of fascinating mechanisms, stunning shapes and groovy gadgets.

A world of tiny animals is dancing in the wind, mooching in leaf litter and playing in ponds. These guys may be small, but their effects (and not just the bad ones) are noticed by us all.