In this collection of true stories, a new father and wandering backyard naturalist explores the hidden world of insects with equal parts wonder, humor, and self-inflicted chaos. From praying mantises that seem to choose their moments of revelation, to parasitic wasps the size of Lincoln’s nose on a penny, to an ill-timed explosion of baby widow spiders on the very day his son is born, these encounters show how extraordinary the smallest creatures can be — and how they quietly reshape the lives of those who pay attention.