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Aquatic and semiaquatic insects far outnumber the other organisms that share their freshwater habitat, yet most of us are unaware of them. Waldbauer, a retired professor of entomology, hopes to rectify this ignorance as he explores the always-interesting lives of aquatic insects. In the same conversational style that he has used in previous works (Millions of Monarchs, Bunches of Beetles, 2000, and What Good Are Bugs? 2003), he presents the fascinating array of adaptations, the diverse forms, and the myriad ways of life of these water dwellers. For instance, tiny aquatic mites live in water-filled tree holes, hitching a ride to new trees on the legs of hole-dwelling hover flies. Brine flies were so abundant in the Great Salt Lake that Indians would gather their pupae from the shoreline to use as food. And caddis fly larvae construct cases of leaves or small twigs to live in, that not only camouflage them but also protect these soft larvae from predators. While telling of the hidden lives of these insects, Waldbauer also reveals evolutionary and ecological details, moving the book beyond the "gee whiz" level. Readers will be inspired to take a closer look at their favorite pond or stream. Nancy Bent
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With breathtaking wonders on every page, A Walk around the Pond will change forever how we think of some of our commonest insects--and indeed, how we think about the almost unimaginably strange and thrilling planet we also, too often, take for granted. This book belongs on every naturalist's bookshelf.
--Sy Montgomery, columnist and author of The Curious Naturalist (20060415)

This book is a good deal more than just 'a walk around the pond.' Even readers who have studied aquatic insects for many years will find much that is new and interesting in these pages. The book is a total immersion in the lives of these amazing insects and the creatures, including ourselves, who interact with them.
--Sidney W. Dunkle, author of Dragonflies through Binoculars (20060601)

Aquatic and semiaquatic insects far outnumber the other organisms that share their freshwater habitat, yet most of us are unaware of them. Waldbauer, a retired professor of entomology, hopes to rectify this ignorance as he explores the always interesting lives of aquatic insects. In the same conversational style that he has used in previous works, he presents the fascinating array of adaptations, the diverse forms, and the myriad ways of life of these water dwellers...While telling of the hidden lives of these insects, Waldbauer also reveals evolutionary and ecological details, moving the book beyond the 'gee whiz' level. Readers will be inspired to take a closer look at their favorite pond or stream.
--Nancy Bent (Booklist 20060901)

An entertaining yet highly accurate and informative account of the lives of aquatic insects. Familiar as they are, their lives take bizarre turns unknown to most laypeople. In 11 engaging chapters, Waldbauer conducts a broad survey of aquatic insects, from giant water bugs that lay their eggs on their mates' backs to minute parasitic wasps that swim with their wings and lay their eggs on other aquatic insects...This book is sure to fascinate not only interested lay readers but also entomologists.
--Annette Aiello (Library Journal )

In North America alone, there are more than 10,000 aquatic and semiaquatic insect species that live parts of their lives in fresh water. How did they evolve to survive both on land and in water? Waldbauer, professor emeritus of entomology at the University of lllinois, attempts to explain the feat while providing a who's who of these remarkable insects, including mayflies, dragonflies, true bugs, beetles, and mosquitoes. (Science News )

Well balanced and well written...A good read for the committed naturalist anywhere in the world. It also provides excellent source material for life-science students wishing to enrich their entomological knowledge, and contains an extensive bibliography and excellent index...A Walk around the Pond is a masterly treatise from the hand of an enthusiast.
--Gaden S. Robinson (Times Literary Supplement )

Almost a story, A Walk Around the Pond: Insects in and over the Water is an easy read with many interesting facts about the interaction of insects with the aquatic environment interspersed with anecdotes from the author's professional and personal experiences. For readers wanting a bit more, the book ends with a bibliography broken up into the chapter headings for easy reference.
--Dr. Garry Levot (General and Applied Entomology )

In his latest book, Gilbert Waldbauer deals in his usual easy-to-read, informative style with my favorite group of insects, those that spend at least part of their lives in water...He clearly has a special interest and immense knowledge of this varied group.
--Rex Kenner (Discovery )