National Geographic Photo Ark Insects

Butterflies, Bees, and Kindred Creatures

Look inside
Photographer Joel Sartore's wildly popular Photo Ark franchise continues with his incredible portraits highlighting the amazing features and behaviors of the world’s insects, including spiders, butterflies, moths, and more.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced photographer Joel Sartore to stay home in Nebraska instead of traveling to zoos and wildlife centers around the globe, what did he do? He went outside and explored the world of bugs.

This book reveals more than 100 species of insects, spiders, and related creatures—some exotic, but many common in fields, forests, and neighborhoods. Amazing portraits in Sartore’s signature style—against a black or white background—capture these creatures’ bulbous eyes, probing antennae, and iridescent bodies in living color. Alongside, entertaining text explains the basics of insect bodies, lives, and behavior, rich with unforgettable details. Who knew that a South American butterfly emerges from a chrysalis that glistens like gold? Or that one species of beetle has pincers as long as the rest of its body? Or that wolf spiders can purr?

For budding scientists—and the kid in all of this—this collection of amazing insect life will intrigue, educate, and amuse all lovers of creepy, crawly creatures everywhere.
Joel Sartore, a National Geographic photographer and explorer, is the founder of the Photo Ark, a 25-year-long documentary project dedicated to animal conservation by creating portraits of all species in human care around the world. To date Sartore has photographed more than 16,000 species, and he estimates that the project may total 20,000 or more. Over the years, Sartore’s books—including The Photo Ark, Birds of the Photo Ark, Photo Ark Vanishing, and Photo Ark Wonders—have proven top sellers in the nature photography category. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife, Kathy; their three children live nearby and often accompany Sartore on his photo shoots around the world.

About

Photographer Joel Sartore's wildly popular Photo Ark franchise continues with his incredible portraits highlighting the amazing features and behaviors of the world’s insects, including spiders, butterflies, moths, and more.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced photographer Joel Sartore to stay home in Nebraska instead of traveling to zoos and wildlife centers around the globe, what did he do? He went outside and explored the world of bugs.

This book reveals more than 100 species of insects, spiders, and related creatures—some exotic, but many common in fields, forests, and neighborhoods. Amazing portraits in Sartore’s signature style—against a black or white background—capture these creatures’ bulbous eyes, probing antennae, and iridescent bodies in living color. Alongside, entertaining text explains the basics of insect bodies, lives, and behavior, rich with unforgettable details. Who knew that a South American butterfly emerges from a chrysalis that glistens like gold? Or that one species of beetle has pincers as long as the rest of its body? Or that wolf spiders can purr?

For budding scientists—and the kid in all of this—this collection of amazing insect life will intrigue, educate, and amuse all lovers of creepy, crawly creatures everywhere.

Author

Joel Sartore, a National Geographic photographer and explorer, is the founder of the Photo Ark, a 25-year-long documentary project dedicated to animal conservation by creating portraits of all species in human care around the world. To date Sartore has photographed more than 16,000 species, and he estimates that the project may total 20,000 or more. Over the years, Sartore’s books—including The Photo Ark, Birds of the Photo Ark, Photo Ark Vanishing, and Photo Ark Wonders—have proven top sellers in the nature photography category. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife, Kathy; their three children live nearby and often accompany Sartore on his photo shoots around the world.

Three Penguin Random House Authors Win Pulitzer Prizes

On Monday, May 5, three Penguin Random House authors were honored with a Pulitzer Prize. Established in 1917, the Pulitzer Prizes are the most prestigious awards in American letters. To date, PRH has 143 Pulitzer Prize winners, including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Josh Steinbeck, Ron Chernow, Anne Applebaum, Colson Whitehead, and many more. Take a look at our 2025 Pulitzer Prize

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

In June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. Pride Month is a time to both celebrate the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the ongoing struggles faced by many across the world who wish to live

Read more