15 replies to this topic

[Acshaw89]

Anyone have any suggestions for a good book about ants in general? Preferably with some color photos? Since I’m a beginner I’m looking for something that is well written for laypersons as I won’t be familiar with a lot of scientific jargon.



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[Ferox_Formicae]

Ants of North America By Brian L. Fisher is really good. It was my first ever ant book, and I still adore its compact nature and gorgeous visuals, including gorgeous photos of displayed specimens along with a hand drawn key to North American ant genera. It does have a few inaccuracies (mostly with naming), but it still holds up pretty well today.

 

I don't have this one myself, but I have heard that The Ants by world-renown Myrmecologist Edward O. Wilson is a really good read. It's a little more scientific, but it seems really good for beginners from what I've read.

 

Peter Slingsby recently sent me a signed copy of his new book, Ants of Southern Africa, and it is just amazing! It's still in it's first stages, and he admits it still has mistakes, but it is certainly amazing, with tons of really unique details. If you have any interest in African ant species, this book is a must read.

 

This one is a lot more complex, but back in June, James Wetterer sent me Mark Deyrup's Ants of Florida, and let me tell you, I adore this book! Mark Deyrup did absolutely amazing with the plates in this book, and I honestly can't keep my eyes off of them. He draws each ant with meticulous detail and his effort towards this book shows. If you have an interest in the ants of Florida (or southeastern ants in general, as Florida contains many ants that can be found elsewhere in the southeast), I highly recommend this book.

[TheMicroPlanet]

I just received Adventures among Ants by Mark W. Moffett from a friend. It's a pretty great book so far and not overly scientific. I honestly love it.

[OhNoNotAgain]

You could also get the AntsCanada ant e-book, maybe.

For kids the Uncle Milton booklet is actually not bad, though I think it has a few inaccuracies.

Great question though as I was just wondering about this myself, though thinking more of looking for a book for younger kids along the lines of the Uncle Milton booklet.

[ponerinecat]

Ants of North America By Brian L. Fisher is really good. It was my first ever ant book, and I still adore its compact nature and gorgeous visuals, including gorgeous photos of displayed specimens along with a hand drawn key to North American ant genera. It does have a few inaccuracies (mostly with naming), but it still holds up pretty well today.

 

I don't have this one myself, but I have heard that The Ants by world-renown Myrmecologist Edward O. Wilson is a really good read. It's a little more scientific, but it seems really good for beginners from what I've read.

 

Peter Slingsby recently sent me a signed copy of his new book, Ants of Southern Africa, and it is just amazing! It's still in it's first stages, and he admits it still has mistakes, but it is certainly amazing, with tons of really unique details. If you have any interest in African ant species, this book is a must read.

 

This one is a lot more complex, but back in June, James Wetterer sent me Mark Deyrup's Ants of Florida, and let me tell you, I adore this book! Mark Deyrup did absolutely amazing with the plates in this book, and I honestly can't keep my eyes off of them. He draws each ant with meticulous detail and his effort towards this book shows. If you have an interest in the ants of Florida (or southeastern ants in general, as Florida contains many ants that can be found elsewhere in the southeast), I highly recommend this book.

Peter needs to make a full book. Africa has some really varied diversity.

Not to mention the country is understudied with major information blanks.

[NickAnter]

The Ants is a very good book, excellent for getting to know how to distinguish genera, and some good vocabulary to know relating to the study of ants.

[Acshaw89]

The Ants is a very good book, excellent for getting to know how to distinguish genera, and some good vocabulary to know relating to the study of ants.

Thanks I was wondering about this one in particular but it’s quite expensive. Are there a lot of photos?


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[Ants4fun]

Just a tip, you can read The Ants for free on antwiki.com. They got permission from the authors. No pictures in that version, though.

[ANTdrew]

I started a thread about this last fall: https://www.formicul...s/?fromsearch=1

[OhNoNotAgain]

I went and bought a used copy of The Ants on Amazon... thanks for the recommendations! 

[gcsnelling]

Ants of North America By Brian L. Fisher is really good. It was my first ever ant book, and I still adore its compact nature and gorgeous visuals, including gorgeous photos of displayed specimens along with a hand drawn key to North American ant genera. It does have a few inaccuracies (mostly with naming), but it still holds up pretty well today.

 

I don't have this one myself, but I have heard that The Ants by world-renown Myrmecologist Edward O. Wilson is a really good read. It's a little more scientific, but it seems really good for beginners from what I've read.

 

 

 

Curious about the inaccuracies you observed.

[Becky]

"Journey to the ants" by Hölldobler and Wilson.

Basically a thinner and cheaper version of "the ants".

[Boog]

I compiled my books in a list, I hope to include some pics and reviews down the road: https://www.formicul...oogs-ant-books/

I need to check out some of these other book suggestions, awesome!

[Ferox_Formicae]

 

Ants of North America By Brian L. Fisher is really good. It was my first ever ant book, and I still adore its compact nature and gorgeous visuals, including gorgeous photos of displayed specimens along with a hand drawn key to North American ant genera. It does have a few inaccuracies (mostly with naming), but it still holds up pretty well today.

 

I don't have this one myself, but I have heard that The Ants by world-renown Myrmecologist Edward O. Wilson is a really good read. It's a little more scientific, but it seems really good for beginners from what I've read.

 

 

 

Curious about the inaccuracies you observed.

 

It's mostly just about the names. For instance, Strumigenys is broken into Strumigenys and Pyramica, Temnothorax americanus is still Promognathus americanus, Colobopsis is still considered a subgenus of Camponotus, Dorylinae is still broken into Ecitoninae and Cerapachinae, and Stigmatomma and Fulakora are still in Amblyopone, just to name a few. Other than that, most aspects of the book are accurate. Also, just a thing about Ants of Florida, which has a few inaccuracies too, Mark Deyrup placed Gnamptogenys triangularis in with the Ponerines. I don't believe Gnamptogenys were ever grouped in with Ponerines, at least recently. Just a little thing though.

[gcsnelling]

Ahh, I thought it was something important.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Ahh, I thought it was something important.

Not really, no. It's still an absolutely incredible book.