Art and Architecture of Insects

Former virologist Phillips collects dynamic, creepy, and starkly beautiful electron micrographs of insects to bring out the gorgeous, detailed structures imperceptible to the naked eye. Phillips's love of both entomology and photography comes through clearly in what he describes as a retirement project after ending his career as a biomedical researcher at New York City's Population Council, and though the text rambles from topic to topic without obvious breaks, the material is still clear, informative, and surprisingly entertaining. Though most of the black and white photos are of entire insect bodies, chapters are divided by body part%E2%80%94eyes, antennae, wings, etc.%E2%80%94and focus largely on functional anatomy, detailing how body structures make each insect well-suited for its ecological role and biological needs. From an artistic perspective the layout is occasionally awkward, but the information is never muddled, affirming that Philips really wants to teach real science as much as he wants to show the gorgeous shapes and structures underneath the often dull, tiny exteriors of bugs as we typically experience them. Phillips's delightful coffee-table volume reveals nature as architect in an ordered yet somehow whimsical world. 154 B&w images. (May)