Book on insects launched

The book titled, ‘A concise field guide to insects and Arachnids’ by Meenakshi Venkatraman, a post doctoral fellow at University of Florida, USA, is aimed at creating interest regarding the insects among the lay people. It introduces about 300 species of insects through colourful pictures and adequate details.

With over 10 top photographers like T N A Perumal, T A Jayakumar, S Karthikeyan and others contributing 350 pictures, the book is considered as the first of its kind in the country with details of significance of the insects in the eco-system. “The health of an ecosystem is usually judged by the absence or presence of certain birds or mammals, but it is the insects and arachnids population which indicates its health in more precise manner,” said
Meenakshi, the author.

T N A Perumal, who has contributed more pictures to this book said that if researchers and photographers join hands they can bring out best books like this.
S G Neginhal, former forest officer described the book a long awaited one. The book is segregated into several parts like butterflies, beetles and spiders.