"Creatures of the sunlight that pirouette on sparkling wings in plain 
view of all who take the time to look, dragonflies are nonetheless 
among the most elusive of insects. Few people get a close look at 
these ever-vigilant aerial predators, and fewer still know what they 
are seeing."—from the Introduction

    From fossils and folklore to life cycles and the latest in digital 
imaging techniques, A Dazzle of Dragonflies will take you into the 
far-reaching and sometimes secret world of one of our most beneficial 
insects. The guides are two of the most experienced and ardent fans 
of the "mosquitohawk," and your journey will include encounters with 
poets and prehistoric giants; peeks into hidden, watery universes; 
side trips to garden ponds and scientific laboratories; and much more.

    Pioneers in the electronic imaging of insects and creators of the 
award-winning website Digital Dragonflies, the authors share their 
spectacular scans of live dragonflies, enhanced with beautiful 
photographs that showcase them in their natural environment.

    Imparting a lifelong passion for these remarkable creatures, the 
authors also ask us to join them in some hands-on activities to 
increase our awareness of and interaction with dragonflies—from 
tips on creating a dragonfly garden to instructions for catching, 
photographing, and scanning them.

    Get ready to have your eyes opened by this true education 
about all things "dragonfly."

    Visit Digital Dragonflies at www.dragonflies.org.

_________________________________________________________

FORREST L. MITCHELL is an associate professor at Texas A&M 
University and a research entomologist at the Texas Agricultural 
Experiment Station in Stephenville, Texas, where he joins Senior 
Research Associate JAMES L. LASSWELL in the pursuit and study 
of dragonflies.


A Peter N. Nevraumont Book


What people are saying about this book

". . . this volume provides a richly illustrated A to Z coverage of 
odonates. The large format, hardcover edition is relatively inexpensive 
for a book of its quality, with much to offer both amateur and 
professional biologists."—The Quarterly Review  of Biology, 
December 2006

"The book's primary impact is its attractive design, with 130 large, 
color images laid out in all their detail and glory. It is worth the 
reasonable purchase price simply to feast the eyes on these 
spectacular pictures. But there is much more . . . This is a 
marvelous production. Get it, absorb the pictures, read it, and go 
out and enjoy the dazzling world of dragonflies."—Great Plains 
Research, November 2006

"Who knows what twists of fate kept this wonderful book from 
becoming a field guide or reference title?  Not that the subject isn't 
worthy of either.  Instead, the dazzling appearance of these insects is 
treated in a grander manner, yielding a small coffee-table title that 
aptly shows off their natural beauty. The authors, entomologists 
clearly enamored of their subject, provide us with the information, 
background, and perspective that other treatments might have missed, 
while entertaining us with spectacular close-up photographs of diverse 
species. . . . Too large to lug into the field, A Dazzle of Dragonflies 
will nevertheless provoke curiosity, inspiring more people to watch and 
wonder at these amazing insects."—Kim Long, Bloomsbury Review 
(Nov/Dec 2005, p. 20)

"This is a passionate look at a ubiquitous group of insects."—Booklist, 
September 2005

"The volume was designed to delight and inform amateur enthusiasts, 
and the remarkably detailed photographs do just that."—American 
Scientist, August 2005

". . . an enticing introduction to the natural history and appreciation of 
dragonflies."—Science magazine, August 2005

". . . is indeed dazzling . . . quite well-written and exceptionally informative."
—Houston  Chronicle, July 2005

". . . a large, beautiful book that contains well-written information about 
dragonfly natural history, prehistory, and folklore."—Ro Wauer, 
http://texasnature.blogspot.com

"The digital scans of living dragonflies offer an unparalleled view of 
these beautiful insects. . . .  Authors Mitchell and Lasswell have 
assembled an enormous amount of useful and interesting information 
on dragonflies as well as offering practical advice for field and 
laboratory work . . ."—John and Gloria Tveten, authors of Our Life with 
Birds: A Nature Trails Book

"Their enthusiasm for dragonflies is evident from the pains they go 
through to explain how they collect and disseminate information 
concerning their subject, as well as the paths their investigations have 
taken."—Robert A. Behrstock, Naturewide Images