Bugs Alive - A Guide to Keeping Australian Invertebrates
By Alan Henderson, Deanna Henderson and Jessie Sinclair
RRP $32.95
Published by Museum Victoria
Paperback, colour illustrations, 200pp

Goliath Stick Insects, Giant Burrowing Cockroaches, and Desert Scorpions are just some of the fascinating invertebrates now appearing in pet shops. These amazing animals and other bugs are becoming increasingly popular as pets and as displays in schools and zoos.

This exciting new title, written by the Live Exhibits staff at Museum Victoria, is the first book on keeping Australian terrestrial invertebrates. Previously, only titles on European or American species were available. Bugs alive contains detailed descriptions (life-cycle, breeding and feeding) of over 90 species, as well as easy to follow instructions for housing and caring for invertebrates. A wide range of terrestrial bugs are covered, including spiders, scorpions, centipedes, beetles and butterflies. Stunning colour photographs and detailed line-art feature extensively throughout the book to describe animals and their anatomy, as well as to depict types of housing, feeding methods and ideas for display.

Alan Henderson is coordinator of the Live Exhibits Unit at Melbourne Museum. He developed and managed the Australian Nature Education Centre, earning him the Young Australian of the Year regional development award in 1998.

Deanna Henderson is a senior animal keeper at the museum and her fascination with all things small developed during her project work with butterflies at the Melbourne Zoo. She has become internationally recognised for her work on keeping cockroaches in captivity.

Jessie Sinclair is also a senior animal keeper at the museum and her early invertebrate work started with ant conservation in plantation timbers, and has developed into interpretive education and husbandry. Jessie’s invertebrate interests are broad, ranging from aquatic through to terrestrial creatures.