Good Bug Bad Bug: Who's Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically (All You Need to Know about the Insects in Your Garden) [Spiral-bound]

Jessica Walliser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008

Good Bug Bad Bug lets you quickly identify the most common invasive and beneficial insects (and other tiny critters) in your garden, and gives the best organic advice on how to attract the good guys and manage the bad guyswithout reaching for the toxic chemicals. Garden expert Jessica Walliser also offers strategies for dealing with the new bugs in town, those worrisome strangers that are starting to show up as a result of climate change. Thirty-six bugs, presented in full color on laminated stock, with concealed wire binding. Sturdy enough to take into the garden for easy reference.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Garden writer Jessica Walliser has put together a book that begs to be taken into the backyard. -- Pittsburgh Tribune, May 24, 2008 (By Bob Karlovitz)

About the Author

Jessica Wallliser is an ornamental horticultrist and the co-host of two weekly live radio shows heard on KDKA in Pittsburgh and a national show heard on Sirius/Lime radio. She is also the co-author of Grow Organic, Over 250 Tips for Growing Flowers, Veggies, Lawns and More.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 90 pages
• Publisher: St. Lynn's Press (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976763192
• ISBN-13: 978-0976763192
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not so good bug book, June 6, 2010

By 

GloverEggs - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Good Bug Bad Bug: Who's Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically (All You Need to Know about the Insects in Your Garden) (Spiral-bound)

Since I do not use pesticides around our place (we raise poultry and they will eat anything), I really like to know which are the good bugs and which ones I should squish. I also have several kids that are very interested in bugs so I figured that this book would kill two birds with one stone.

The book is spiral bound and very pretty. However, this book lacks significant details that one needs. Most of the pictures of the bugs are from the side and often not even zoomed in enough that you can easily make out the bug. There are many bad bugs that look very much like good bugs. This book does not explain any of the physical differences between these look a likes. In fact the book does not even mention the look a likes. The advice from the book is to sit and watch the bug and see what it does to decide if it is good or bad for your garden.

What pictures are provided often only show the mature bug. In some instances, it also shows the larval stages, but not usually. To turely provide a vauable identification guide, pictures from the side and top should be provided.

The book offers suggestions about what to do if you find the bugs. Most of the time, the suggestion is neem or pyrethrins. I do want to give a huge kudo for pointing out that ducks and geese offer great "biological control" with slugs. Chickens, turkeys, and guineas also offer wonderful biological controls for many bugs.

Overall I was disappointed in the book. I believe that Edward Smith's "The Vegetable Gardener's Bible" offers better descriptions and pictures (though they are drawings). My oldest son also has several general bug books that are much better in their detail and descriptions.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Bug, Bad Bug, Good Book, June 28, 2008

By 

goat girl (Nicholasville, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Bug Bad Bug: Who's Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically (All You Need to Know about the Insects in Your Garden) (Spiral-bound)

I have always found Jessica Walliser's gardening books to be so useful, but this one takes the prize. The photos of the bugs--good and bad--and what their damage looks like is invaluable when trying to figure out what course of action to take in your garden. I took this book out to my garden and flipped through its pages looking for a picture that matched my plant damage--flea beetles! And again--cucumber beetles! I feel like not only am I learning to identify insects, but I am better managing my vegetable garden, organically. Jessica's advice for "Live biological controls" and "Preventive actions" and "Organic product controls" for each pest tell you exactly what to do when something is attacking your plants. I highly recommend this book for any gardener wanting to learn, before reaching for the spray bottle.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, May 24, 2008

By 

AS King (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Bug Bad Bug: Who's Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically (All You Need to Know about the Insects in Your Garden) (Spiral-bound)

Finally!
A straightforward book about pests and beneficial insects for gardeners. I have looked for a book like this for twenty years!

GOOD BUG, BAD BUG has great pictures and brilliant information about each pest, including what their damage looks like, what plants they attack, how to prevent attacks, and how to control attacks organically. Better yet, it has an equally awesome section for beneficial insects, with pictures, detailed information, and tips on how to attract them and keep them in your garden.
With a great introduction and a very useful glossary, and spiral bound to last a long time, this book just plain ROCKS.