Updated for the first time in over twenty years, the third edition of Insects of the Los Angeles Basin is a beautifully produced and richly illustrated field guide to more than 450 common or conspicuous insects, spiders, millipedes, and other arthropods that inhabit the region. Each species account describes the size and physical characteristics of insects at their adult and immature stages. Entries also incorporate information on habitat, geographic range, behavior, food preferences, nests, noises, and scents—even lore of the more notorious species. Color-coded sections organize species by order, and 500 photographs and line drawings help with easy identification. The book’s engaging and accessible writing includes introductory chapters that explain the characteristics of insects and the ecology of Los Angeles, back matter for starting an insect collection and suggestions for further reading, and a new preface discussing the tremendous effects of technological advances and citizen science on the field of entomology.

Written with the Greater Los Angeles Basin as its focus but useful to residents of the entire coastal area of Southern California from Santa Barbara to San Diego, this book is an invaluable resource for hikers, gardeners, teachers, students, and anyone else curious about the diversity of life in our midst.