I have been looking for books to help me better understand and ID insects any suggestions?

Where in the world do you live?

Your profile mentions Virginia, so this recommendation is based on an assumption of North America. My go-to is Borror and Delong’s Introduction to the Study of Insects. It’s focused on North American taxa, and is often used as the required text in introductory entomology courses at the college leve…

Good general introduction https://www.amazon.ca/Insects-Natural-History-Diversity-Photographic/dp/1770859624/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=stephen+marshall+insects&qid=1606878289&sr=8-1 Assuming you dont want a field guide for a specific family, in which case you need to share what that is.

I believe older issues of Borror and DeLong can be downloaded as pdf’s.

Books for identifying insects

Nature Talk

blastcat December 2, 2020, 2:06pm 5

Virginia.

Topic		Replies	Views
Best textbooks for beginner entomologist? Nature Talk	11	2376	June 21, 2020
What are your favorite books for Insect ID? Nature Talk	14	1710	September 11, 2021
Freshwater Macroinvertebrate ID Nature Talk question	7	706	March 15, 2024
Good General Reference Works for Diptera? Nature Talk question , recommendations	12	974	November 6, 2020
Where can I find complete insect keys for insects in Ohio? Nature Talk	5	254	February 21, 2025

Books for identifying insects

Related topics