Phil Bragg Publishing

ISBN = 0 9531195 0 5
Price = £2.50 + p&p 20p to UK, 70p to Europe, £1.10 elsewhere
Or $7.00 including postage in USA
Published = 1997
Review written = 19/November/1997
16 pages A5

If you have read what I have put up on the web about keeping Praying Mantids as pets and still have a thirst for more knowledge then this is your next port-of-call. This is a well written and lucid account of all you will ever need to know to keep most mantids, containing much information that is the result of Phil's years of practical experience in raising and studying these delightful and fascinating insects. Illustrated with several excellent B/W taxonomically accurate drawings this is the best value for money guide to rearing mantids that I know of.

Contains Sections on:- An Introduction to praying mantids, Types of mantids, Structure of mantids, Mantids in captivity, Cages, Feeding, Breeding mantids, Sexing mantids, Mating, Egg laying, Young nymphs, Identification, Preservation, Distributing mantids, Obtaining mantids, Sources of further information, Mantis study Group.

All in all this is an excellent value for money, and very useful addition to the literature on keeping insects as pets. In fact if it was not for the fact that it doesn't mention my home page as an additional source of information I would say it was as good as it could possibly be.
Highly Recommended

If you have read what I have put up on the web about keeping Cockroaches as pets and still have a thirst for more knowledge then this is your next port-of-call. This is a well written and lucid account of all you will ever need to know to keep most cockroaches, containing much information that is the result of Phil's years of practicle experience in raising and studying these delightful and facinating insects. Illustrated with several excellent B/W taxonomically accurate drawings this is the best value for money guide to rearing roaches that I know of.

In fact it was Phil who supplied me with my first cockroaches nearly 6 years ago and because of the great joy I have had in keeping them ever since it is a real pleasure to be able to review this excellent little book. Written by someone who really is a master of the art, rather than by someone who is simply out to make a quick pound/dollar, this book reflects both the authors expertise and his experience at communicating his subject to other people.

Contains Sections on:- An Introduction to cockroaches, Types of cockroaches, Structure of cockroaches, Cockroaches in captivity, Cages, Feeding, Breeding cockroaches, Sexing cockroaches, Egg laying, Young nymphs, Breeding cockroaches as live food, Identification, Preservation, Obtaining and distributing cockroaches, Choosing a cockroach, Collecting cockroaches Sources of further information, Blattodea Culture Group
All in all this is an excellent introduction to a fascinating hobby and though Phil has neglected to mention my home page again I will forgive him in the hope that some of you will buy this book and that it will result in my having to answer less basic questions.
Highly Recommended