Bugs In The System
Insects And Their Impact On Human Affairs
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
An introduction to insect physiology, genetics and behaviour which looks at the interaction between humans and insects, and explores both the positive and negative aspects of the relationship.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Berenbaum, a professor of entomology at the University of Illinois, here presents extraordinary information on how insects affect our lives and society. In wars, these creatures caused more deaths than bombs or bullets, according to the author; for example, the louse, carrier of typhus, defeated Napoleon's troops. Fleas (plague) and mosquitos (malaria) have taken a heavy toll on human populations. A gall nearly wiped out the French wine industry in 1860; scale insects have been the source of varnish and dye. And Berenbaum also reminds us that about a third of our food is the direct result of insect pollination. A captivating book of popular science.