In the pages of this beautifully illustrated edition, you will encounter insects — the most numerous representatives of the natural world. They have mastered almost every corner of our planet and have acquired unique traits through the process of evolution. Did you know that the fragile demoiselle damselfly can sometimes turn into a formidable aerial hunter, or that the Hercules beetle manages to lift weight hundreds of times exceeding its own? Did you guess that the silkworm produces a silk thread up to a kilometer and a half long in its lifetime, and that leafcutter ants know how not only to make compost from chewed leaves but also to grow fungi? This book will reveal to you the secrets of the lives of the most diverse insects — beetles and mantises, bees and wasps, dragonflies and butterflies, grasshoppers and locusts. It provides a description of their appearance, presents their main features and habitats, and indicates their size and conservation status. Furthermore, you will learn about the stunning survival mechanisms of these creatures — all kinds of methods for protection against predators, phenomenal strength, and endurance. And a large number of interesting, sometimes incredible facts and spectacular photographs, allowing you to examine insects in full detail, will turn your acquaintance with their amazing world into an exciting journey!
