Bagging Big Bugs

This companion to Creepy Crawlies is the ultimate in-depth field guide to insect collecting across the Rocky Mountain region, from northern New Mexico to southern Canada. Collecting bugs provides children and teenagers an avenue to discover the diversity and beauty of nature as well as the methodology of science. Many local organizations, such as 4-H clubs, hold display competitions, and often an amateur collector can "scoop" the experts by finding a particularly rare, even unstudied specimen!

Most field guides cover geographical ranges that are too large to allow for the detailed information essential to proper insect identification. Entomology professors Whitney Cranshaw and Boris Kondratieff have provided a detailed guide specifically to the largest, most colorful, and impressive insects and other arthropods of the Rocky Mountain region, including northern New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and sections of southern Canada.

Through comprehensive text and more than 250 photographs and line drawings, Bagging Big Bugs details the histories, habits, life cycles, distribution, and regional history of more than 100 insects and related species. The book provides expert guidelines for collecting, rearing, labeling, and displaying insect specimens. Latin names as well as common names are provided for each species (along with a helpful pronunciation guide), making identification easy and accessible. There is even a special section highlighting commonly confused insect species and specimens, helping collectors avoid common identification pitfalls.

Bagging Big Bugs is a highly recommended, indispensable field guide for beginners learning the art of insect collecting, and has a wealth of information of value to the experienced collector as well. Perfect for young naturalists, 4-H participants, homeschool families, amateur entomologists, and anyone fascinated by the incredible diversity of Rocky Mountain arthropods.

Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, emeritus professor with the Department of Agricultural Biology at Colorado State University (CSU), was elected Fellow in 2022. During his career, he pursued broad interests in advancing IPM practices, with a focus on arthropod issues of importance in the Rocky Mountain region. His work in advancing entomology in the area of landscape/home horticulture is perhaps most widely recognized.