Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly [Paperback]

Howard Garrett (Author), C. Malcolm Beck (Author), Gwen E. Gage (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0292709374 | ISBN-13: 978-0292709379 | Publication Date: September 1, 2005 | Edition: Revised

Texas Bug Book is your complete guide for identifying and organically controlling all of the most common Texas insects. Drawing on years of practical experience and research, organic gardening experts Howard Garrett and Malcolm Beck give detailed instructions on how to identify, understand the life cycle of, and control or protect Texas insects, mites, snails, slugs, nematodes, and other critters. They also include striking color photos and black-and-white drawings to help you identify each bug. Garrett and Beck highlight the many useful roles that bugs play in nature and offer proven organic remedies for infestations of pest insects.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Texas Bug Book: "Definitive ... This book is a must-have for any organic library!" Texas Organic News "Overall this [book] is probably the best of its kind. Given the excellent photography and affordability, it is definitely worth the purchase." Whole Earth "Texas Bug Book, unlike many of the characters it describes, is a keeper--highly recommended as a perfect companion volume to set beside your native plant books." Native Plant Society of Texas News "If you plan on ever stepping outside, or staying inside, or going to bed, Texas Bug Book is a wealth of information you can't possibly live without." Austin American-Statesman "This book is recommended essentially to all humans above the age of three. It conveys a wonderful message about our ecology and hope for living within our environment." Choice

About the Author

HOWARD GARRETT is a landscape architect, certified arborist, horticulturist, and organic practitioner in Dallas. He promotes his organic gardening program, The Natural Way, through his WBAP-820 AM radio show, weekly column in the Dallas Morning News, monthly Dirt magazine, natural organic Web site www.dirtdoctor.com, and regional and national speaking engagements.

MALCOLM BECK, of San Antonio, is the founder of Garden-Ville Fertilizer Company. Winner of the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence in 1997, he writes and speaks extensively on organic growing practices.

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; Revised edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292709374
• ISBN-13: 978-0292709379
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Biology > Entomology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for organic gardeners!, July 7, 1999

By 

Homer (Stillwater Ok) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Paperback)

The Texas Bug Book is a glossary of the most common pests and beneficials around the garden. For each critter, they explain its life cycle, favorite foods, benefits and detriments. There is plenty of information on how to attract the beneficials and how to discourage the pests organically. Most of these bugs are not limited to Texas, so this book would benefit any organic gardener.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Kids and Our Bugs, July 30, 2002

By 

Stacie Fano (Tomball, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Paperback)

When my two and four year olds starting bringing me bugs from outside, I decided it was time to determine if they were harmful. This book had excellent photographs that helped me identify the bugs. I used it as an educational tool for my two little bug hunters. I am happy to report we have had no dangerous bugs gathered.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bugs at their best, September 6, 2002

By 

C. Scott "cathyscott" (Round Rock, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Paperback)

I never knew bugs could abe so interesting. The authors combine factual information on insects with entertaining stories of buggy encounters. This book reaches my kids on a level they can understand (they are 8 - 12 years old), yet provides me with plenty of good factual information that helps with gardening. The kids were thrilled to discover that the funny things they had seen "growing" on the fence were actually lacewing eggs. We are eagerly anticipaing their hatching. I also appreciated the recipes for home-made, natural insecticides.