“At times this informative book turns wonderfully gross and lovely, reminding us that there’s an entire universe of largely unnoticed creatures all around us.”—Audubon
All animals must eat. But who eats who, and why, or why not? Because insects outnumber and collectively outweigh all other animals combined, they comprise the largest amount of animal food available for potential consumption. How do they avoid being eaten? From masterful disguises to physical and chemical lures and traps, predatory insects have devised ingenious and bizarre methods of finding food. Equally ingenious are the means of hiding, mimicry, escape, and defense waged by prospective prey in order to stay alive. This absorbing book demonstrates that the relationship between the eaten and the eater is a central—perhaps the central—aspect of what goes on in the community of organisms. By explaining the many ways in which insects avoid becoming a meal for a predator, and the ways in which predators evade their defensive strategies, Gilbert Waldbauer conveys an essential understanding of the unrelenting coevolutionary forces at work in the world around us.
By:
Dr. Gilbert Waldbauer Illustrated by:
James Nardi Imprint: University of California Press Country of Publication: United States Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 23mm
Weight: 318g ISBN:9780520383005 ISBN 10: 0520383001 Pages: 240 Publication Date:06 April 2021 Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
Prologue Acknowledgments 1. Insects in the Web of Life 2. The Eaters of Insects 3. Fleeing and Staying under Cover 4. Hiding in Plain Sight 5. Bird Dropping Mimicry and Other Disguises 6. Flash Colors and Eyespots 7. Safety in Numbers 8. Defensive Weapons and Warning Signals 9. The Predators’ Countermeasures 10. Protection by Deception Epilogue Selected References Index
Gilbert Waldbauer is Professor Emeritus of Entomology at University of Illinois. He is the author of eight books, including Fireflies, Honey, and Silk (UC Press), A Walk around the Pond, and What Good Are Bugs?