National Geographic Photo Ark Insects

Photographer Joel Sartore's wildly popular Photo Ark franchise continues with his incredible portraits highlighting the amazing features and behaviors of the world’s insects, including spiders, butterflies, moths, and more.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced photographer Joel Sartore to stay home in Nebraska instead of traveling to zoos and wildlife centers around the globe, what did he do? He went outside and explored the world of bugs.

This book reveals more than 100 species of insects, spiders, and related creatures—some exotic, but many common in fields, forests, and neighborhoods. Amazing portraits in Sartore’s signature style—against a black or white background—capture these creatures’ bulbous eyes, probing antennae, and iridescent bodies in living color. Alongside, entertaining text explains the basics of insect bodies, lives, and behavior, rich with unforgettable details. Who knew that a South American butterfly emerges from a chrysalis that glistens like gold? Or that one species of beetle has pincers as long as the rest of its body? Or that wolf spiders can purr?

For budding scientists—and the kid in all of this—this collection of amazing insect life will intrigue, educate, and amuse all lovers of creepy, crawly creatures everywhere.