Extraordinary insects : the fabulous, indispensable creatures who run our world / Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson ; translated by Lucy Moffatt ; illustrations by Tuva Sverdrup-Thygeson.
| Author/creator | Sverdrup-Thygeson, Anne author. |
| Other author | Sverdrup-Thygeson, Tuva, illustrator. |
| Other author | Moffatt, Lucy, translator. |
| Format | Book |
| Edition | First Simon & Schuster paperback edition. |
| Publication | New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2020. |
| Copyright Date | ©2019 |
| Description | xix, 235 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm |
| Subjects |
| Uniform title | Insektenes planet. English |
| Contents | Small creatures, smart design: insect anatomy -- Six-legged sex: dating, mating and parenting -- Eat or be eaten: insects in the food chain -- Insects and plants: a never-ending race -- Busy flies, flavorsome bugs: insects and our food -- The circle of life and death: insects as janitors -- From silk to shellac: industries of insects -- Lifesavers, pioneers and Nobel prize winners: insights from insects -- Insects and us: what's next? |
| Abstract | With ecologist Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson as our intrepid guide, Extraordinary Insects is an enthusiastic, witty, and fascinating introduction to the world of insects and why we -- an the planet we inhabit -- could not survive without them. Insects comprise roughly half of the animal kingdom. They live everywhere -- deep inside caves, high in the Himalayas, inside computers, in Yellowstone's hot springs, and in the ears and nostrils of much larger creatures. There are insects that have ears on their knee, eyes on their penises, and tongues under their feet. Many people think life would be better without bugs. In fact, life would be impossible without them. Insects turn dead plants and animals into soil. They pollinate flowers, including crops that we depend on. They provide food for other animals and control pests that are harmful to humans. Life as we know it depends on these small creatures. But recent years have brought disturbing reports of extensive declines in insect numbers and diversity, which could have serious consequences for us and the planet. |
| Abstract | Out of sight, underfoot, unseen beyond fleeting scuttles or darting flights, insects occupy a hidden world, yet are essential to sustaining life on earth. Insects influence our ecosystem like a ripple effect on water. They arrived when life first moved to dry land, they preceded - and survived - the dinosaurs, they outnumber the grains of sand on all the world's beaches, and they will be here long after us. Working quietly but tirelessly, they give us food, uphold our ecosystems, can heal our wounds and even digest plastic. They could also provide us with new solutions to the antibiotics crisis, assist in disaster zones and inspire airforce engineers with their flying techniques. But their private lives are also full of fun, intrigue and wonder - musical mating rituals; house-hunting for armies of beetle babies; metamorphosing into new characters; throwing parties in fermenting sap; cultivating fungi for food; farming smaller species for honey dew and always ensuring that what is dead is decomposed, ready to become life once again. Here, we will discover life and death, drama and dreams, all on a millimetric scale. Like it or not, Earth is the planet of insects, and this is their extraordinary story. |
| General note | Originally published in 2018 in Norway by J.M. Stenersens Forlag as Insektenes planet. |
| General note | Previously published as Buzz, sting, bite: why we need insects. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-224) and index. |
| Language | Translated from the Norwegian. |
| Other title | Buzz, sting, bite: why we need insects. |
| ISBN | 9781982112882 (paperback) |
| ISBN | 1982112883 (paperback) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laupus | Popular Reading Collection | QL 463 S968 2020 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |