Attenborough is at it again, exploring the natural world with his team of cinematographers and clearly explaining what they've found to a lay audience. In this companion volume to a series on TV's Animal Planet, Attenborough explores the lives of the planet's land-based invertebrates. Concentrating mainly on insects and spiders, the author investigates all aspects of the animals' life cycles. He first surveys the invertebrate invasion of land from the primordial sea, as illustrated by some of the most ancient species known (horseshoe crabs, scorpions, velvet worms, and snails). Insects then conquered the skies, and Attenborough observes some of the more familiar fliers as he compares and contrasts the lives of dragonflies, cicadas, and butterflies. A most fascinating section examines the diverse and often complicated ecological relationships of land invertebrates with their prey, their predators, their mates, and their rivals. Finally, the author turns his lens to the insects that live in super societies--ants, bees and wasps, and termites--and discusses the evolution and advantages of such extreme sociality.

Life in the Undergrowth was, originally, a television documentary miniseries that aired on the BBC in 2005, written and presented by the author of the accompanying book. I was completely unaware of this and can’t speak for the show, but I can say that the book is quite enjoyable. It’s filled with high resolution images that are both stunning and quite beautiful if you aren’t creeped out by insects, and the information is fascinating in breezy and digestible sort of way.

As is often the case when I read books about entomology, my favorite part was about super colonies. There is something about social insects that endlessly fascinates me, and I was particularly interested In honeypot ants. They actual designate ants that will essentially become food storage devices, they are made to eat huge amounts of honey until they swell into giant globes of honey, and then hang from the ceiling so that other ants may come along and drink from them. On the other hand, the spider section may have made me squirm from time to time…

Certainly recommended for people with a casual interest in insects. ( )

Attenborough makes the most of the media and adds loads of interesting stuff not covered in the TV series.

From one point of view they are "Creepy Crawlies" from another they are the original conquerors of the land and perhaps it's ultimate inheritors. So why not learn a bit more about them.

There is no "exchanging a meaningful glance with wild Gorillas" moment but there is plenty to make you stop and think. PLenty of great pictures too. Some you can scare your granny with. ( )