Insects are fascinating and ingenious. They also play an incredibly important role in maintaining life on planet Earth, and are particularly pivotal to our own survival. And yet they are under threat because of us. Since they appeared on land 420 million years ago, these small six-legged animals have been pioneers and ultimate survivors. Around 87 per cent of all plant species need animal pollination and most of this is delivered by insects – they also maintain healthy soil, assist in decomposition and are essential to the food web. 

This book is a celebration, and also a call to arms. One of the UK’s foremost entomologists and respected academics, George McGavin, explains all the amazing things that insects do, what we’re doing as humans to threaten their habitats and most importantly what we can do now to protect them.