Hi everyone! I'm The_BookishBug (you can call me Bug or Vic). I’m so happy you’re looking into this quest! Here, we'll marvel at the intricate social lives of ants, take a closer look at the millipedes in your basement, and try to understand how a snail might experience the world!

I'm a lover of all things insect-related and currently work as an entomologist by day. I’ve had such a blast curating the book selection here! Even if you aren't a lover of all the creepy crawlies out there, please don't feel unwelcome! My hope is that everyone will find something to enjoy here, and gain a little bit of appreciation for the natural world while doing so.

About this quest: This quest will feature books on terrestrial invertebrates and will include topics such as: 🦗 Minibeast natural histories 🐜 Minibeast influence on human history, society, and culture 🦂 The people who study them

Accepted animals: most terrestrial arthropods, annelids, and mollusks. If you would call it a creepy crawly, it can be featured in this quest! Due to their sheer number and human experience with them, the majority of books will be about insects, but I wanted to give other small critters a place to shine, too. Where minibeasts are not the main topic of the book, they’re still featured and are discussed within their ecological context or the author is using them as a focal point in a larger conversation about their life.

This quest includes pop science books, visual guides, photography books, and memoirs. I did my best to make sure the books here are appropriate for a general audience, but some books may feature more technical information. Don’t worry, it all balances out! There are also some books that just have beautiful minibeast photos 🤩

An important note: this quest is not a place for minibeast hatred! Comments or posts encouraging violence against the animals presented are not welcome in this quest forum. Please do not post about "killing it with fire" or advocate for the extinction of entire species. However, please do feel free to discuss your fear or anxiety around these animals! It would be silly not to acknowledge that many people are uncomfortable with or indifferent to them. Ideally, we can start a conversation about these topics!

I’ve chosen to promote works that feature these animals in a positive or neutral light over a negative one. As you'll read in many of these books, a lot of these animals are facing ecological hardships and part of the reason is public disgust and disinterest. While more books featuring minibeasts as pests and disease vectors will eventually be included, they will not be the priority.

Recommendations If you have any suggestions for a nonfiction book that features minibeasts, please feel free to suggest it here!

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With all that out of the way, I hope you all enjoy! Are there any books here you’ve read or any that look particularly interesting? Will you be going straight for the photo books or looking for a more comprehensive text? Are you a fearless bug enthusiast or does the sight of a spider keep you up at night? Do you have a favorite minibeast? I look forward to chatting with everyone!