A book about insectsWhat an empty place the desert seems to be—nothing but sand all around and wilted bushes that give no shade. On closer look. however, you will see insects sitting on the bushes -- a desert acridian chewing a leaf. buprestid beetles, their shells as hard as nuts, resting on the branches, and dry blades of grass which look like flowers from a distance. This is because hanging from the blade tops are brightly coloured blister beetles called so for their poisonous blood.If at night you light a bright lantern on a sand hill, moths, ichneumon flies and beetles will immediately appear in swarms and you will wonder where they all had been hiding during the day. In the morning fine trails are left on the sand-the footprints of darkling beetles which were calling on each other during the night.Insects also live in caves where it is always dark. High up in the mountains. And in snow-covered fields and on glaciers. And what about the ocean? Surely no insects are found there? Giant mountains of water crashing against each other during a storm would crush the little creatures at once. However, as soon as the sea settles down you will see water beetles gliding on its surface. How do they manage to survive the storm? When an oncoming wave is about to crash down. The clever water beetles dive under it and escape the danger. So wherever you look, you will notice insects, a our small inconspicuous neighbours.Translated by Pavel Kotsubinsky Drawings by Ruben Varshamov