A Regional Insect Field Guide by Merrill A Peterson
Engaging and accessible, Pacific Northwest Insects features over 1225 species with stunning photographs and descriptions.
Engaging and accessible, Pacific Northwest Insects features over 1225 species with stunning photographs and descriptions.
Based on an exhaustive study by one of the region's insect authorities, Pacific Northwest Insects is a major breakthrough in field guides - the first ever to enable readers to easily and accurately identify thousands of species spanning the breadth of insect diversity.
"Beautiful and highly effective"
–- Edward O. Wilson, Professor Emeritus at Harvard University
"The first regional field guide that allows amateur bug-watchers to accurately identify a broad range of insects to the species level."
-- The Seattle Times
"This book, without doubt, is the best single guide to the identification of the region’s insects."
-- Rob Cannings, Ph.D., Curator Emeritus of Entomology at Canada's Royal British Columbia Museum and author of Dragonflies of British Columbia and the Yukon.
“Accurate identification of our local insects becomes practical for the first time, thanks to this splendid book from one of our foremost ecologists and educators.”
–- Robert Michael Pyle, Ph.D., Founder of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and author of The Butterflies of Cascadia, Wintergreen, and others.
"This is the book I'll be recommending for gardeners and hikers who want to identify the insects that share their garden and woodlands. Thank you Dr. Peterson."
-- Sharon J. Collman, founding architect of the international Master Gardener Program and Professor Emeritus, WSU Cooperative Extension.
"A feast of information and images."
-- Dr. David G James, author of Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies
"A book that all entomologists will undoubtedly wish to possess...This book should be on the shelf of all libraries in the region and will be in constant demand by all readers interested in the living world. It is an essential reference for the beginner."
-- G.G.E. Scudder, Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia
“With stunning photos and informative text...this easy-to-use book is a must-have for all field naturalists.”
–- Dennis Paulson, Ph.D., Director Emeritus, Slater Museum of Natural History and author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West
Accounts include all the information necessary to identify a species and to distinguish it from similar species in the region, as well as information on seasonality, size variation, habitat and distribution in the Pacific Northwest.
Essays on each of the major groups of insects with information on their distinctive features, lifestyles and habitat.
Clear and accurate line drawings that illustrate anatomical features used in identification of species. Artist: Emiko Olason
Merrill A. Peterson is Professor of Biology and Insect Collection Curator at Western Washington University, where he has taught various courses in entomology, ecology, and evolutionary biology since 1997. He is also an adjunct professor in the Entomology Department at Washington State University and often teaches Master Gardener classes o
Merrill A. Peterson is Professor of Biology and Insect Collection Curator at Western Washington University, where he has taught various courses in entomology, ecology, and evolutionary biology since 1997. He is also an adjunct professor in the Entomology Department at Washington State University and often teaches Master Gardener classes on insects. Merrill began studying insects while growing up in Seattle, received his B.S. in Zoology from the University of Washington, and his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University. He has authored numerous papers on insect ecology, evolution, and diversity, and oversaw the development of the Pacific Northwest Moths website. His natural history photographs have been published in the New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Butterflies of Cascadia, Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies, and many other places.