"I needed to write a book that would attract the people that would (otherwise) never pick up a book about insects," Hostetler said. "I gave it the 'ick' factor, with a little humor."

Hostetler's vested interest in insects comes from his work with urban development and the need to protect biodiversity.

The book helps travelers identify bug splats on the windshield while teaching them history, facts and figures about bugs. It is meant for the glove box, as a reference for road trips, and even includes some travel games in the back for kids.

For his research, Hostetler peeled bugs off of the fronts of Greyhound buses and traveled across the country with a wire mesh attached to the top of his car, catching the bugs after they hit.

"I identified the bugs not to species, but to orders of insects (such as butterflies or beetles)," Hostetler said. "I characterized the splats by color, texture and size."

Not only order, but also gender of insects can be found with a careful look. Male and female can be identified by the slime they leave on the windshield. Females have red in their gunk, which comes from the blood meal in their bodies.

Bug splats that remain on the car for an extended period of time can do some small damage.

"(They) can etch a little bit of your paint off if you leave it on there for a long period of time," Hostetler said.

To get the smears off the windshield, Hostetler recommends using Prestone Bug Wash windshield washer fluid.

Although bugs may be difficult to avoid on the roads, Nelson does not recommend killing bugs intentionally.

"Know your enemy," said Nelson. "Most insects are actually your friends, so don't dive for the poison every time you see one walk across your windshield."

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E-mail: amarshall@desnews.com