Insect Safari

“Count me in on this safari! You don’t have to travel to Africa to witness strange and glorious animals in the midst of breathtaking behaviors close at hand. Margie Patlak shows that you need not leave your own yard (or in some cases even your house!) to find drama, beauty, and wonder in the insect world. Safari njema!” –Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus and Of Time and Turtles.

“Insect Safari unveils the breathtaking world of bugs through vivid storytelling and stunning discoveries, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary encounters. Margie Patlak’s inviting and engaging voice inspires curiosity, wonder, and a deeper appreciation for the vibrant insect universe surrounding us every day.” –Stephen Buchmann, author of What a Bee Knows

“Wonder bursts from these pages. Vivid prose and gorgeous photography celebrate the diversity and sophistication of insects, and invite us to further discovery. Margie Patlak reminds us that rapt attention to everyday creatures reveals marvels on our doorsteps.” –David George Haskell, biologist and two-time Pulitzer-finalist author of How Flowers Made our World, Sounds Wild and Broken, The Songs of Trees, and The Forest Unseen.

“Margie Patlak’s infectious enthusiasm for her topic made it all the more captivating, and had me thinking she enjoyed writing it as much as I did reading it. Read it yourself and you’ll never look at your backyard the same way again.” –Jonathan Balcombe, author of Super Fly, and What a Fish Knows

“Under all of our noses is a world of insects, whose lives are as strange and fascinating as they are largely overlooked. Margie Patlak’s Insect Safari takes the reader through this hidden yet accessible world of parasitic wasps, jewel-like sweat bees, moths that pretend to be bird poop, dancing flies, singing crickets and more – a tapestry of wonder just beyond the door.” –Scott Weidensaul, author of The Return of the Oystercatcher and A World on the Wing.

“Our world is one of the six-legged. Yet, we are wildly unfamiliar with insects and scarcely give them notice. Taking us through explorations of even the nearest surroundings, Margie Patlak demonstrates the wonder, discovery, and beauty of insects and that learning of their lives can change ours. If we take the time to look with care and listen calmly, the most amazing experiences await us.” –Michael S. Engel, entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History and author of Innumerable Insects.

“Uncommonly well-researched, unusually well-written, and unexpectedly entertaining, Margie Patlak’s Insect Safari is a delightful read for seasoned naturalists and curious laymen alike.” –Doug Tallamy, Entomologist, Ecologist, Author

Margie Patlak is a science writer, memoirist, and photographer. Her book More Than Meets the Eye: Exploring Nature and Loss on the Coast of Maine was given an “Outstanding Book” award by the American Society of Journalists and Authors in 2022. Her photo book Wild and Wondrous: Nature’s Artistry on the Coast of Maine was published in 2023, and her photographs have been featured in several solo and group exhibits. She has also written articles for a number of newspapers and magazines, including Discover, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and her essays have been published in a number of literary journals. Patlak divides her time between Down East Maine and Philadelphia.

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