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.
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Book Description
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.
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More About the Author
Horticulturist Jessica Walliser is the co-host of KDKA Radio's "The Organic Gardeners" and was awarded the 2011 Garden Writers Association's National Quill and Trowel Award for "Best On-Air Talent." She is a garden columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and is a regular contributor to Organic Gardening, Hobby Farms, Fine Gardening, and Urban Farm magazines. Jessica is the former owner of a 20-acre organic market farm. She has authored three gardening books including Grow Organic, A Gardener's Notebook, and Good Bug Bad Bug: Who's Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically. Jessica is currently at work on her fourth book, scheduled for release in 2013 from Timber Press.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By GloverEggs
Format:Spiral-bound|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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
By goat girl
Format: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
By AS King
Format: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.
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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy read
Simple and easy to read and understand. This book is nicely organized, well constructed and can be taken right into the garden to identify that ugly little bug that has been... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Beverly Rooker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Book!
First off, the photography in Good Bug Bad Bug is some of the best I've ever seen. I like being able to take this book out into the garden to figure out if a insect is beneficial... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Organic Man
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful on the "fly"
This book is the go-to-in-a-pinch explanation for friends with gardening questions. The pictures and descriptions are simple for the gardener who needs to solve a problem while... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Red
3.0 out of 5 stars
could be better
This is only an ok book. The bugs in the photos could have been larger and better quality and I would like it to include more bugs.
Published 23 months ago by jk
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's Just a Bug
The book is informative and the photos are good. I'm not sure what I expected but I feel a little let down ... why? I'm not sure.
Published on March 5, 2011 by SagGirl
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Dirt Diva highly recommends this book!
Organic gardening expert, Jessica Walliser has put together the perfect bug guide for you to keep by your side in the garden or shed when you need to quickly determine if the bug... Read more
Published on January 10, 2011 by Dirt Diva
3.0 out of 5 stars
more hype than substance
This would be a good book for a beginning gardener, but lacks the depth that I expected. I had expected to see more about what was in my vegetable garden, but this is broader to... Read more
Published on October 8, 2010 by Teresa Couch
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good books for garderner
I live in Honolulu and I started to love gardening about a few months a go. So, practically I'm a newbie. Read more
Published on August 19, 2010 by Yvonne Brilhart
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific book
This book was recommended to me as a must-read for the organic gardener. It certainly is that. Since I received it, I keep it close at hand, referring to it often. Read more
Published on July 27, 2010 by Sharon Knuth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful book!
I found out about this book after reading an article the author wrote for Organic Gardening magazine about beneficial insects. Read more
Published on June 10, 2010 by H. Morrow
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