Dinosaurs, however toothy, did not rule the earth-and neither do
humans. But what were and are the true potentates of our planet?
Insects, says Scott Richard Shaw-millions and millions of insect
species. Starting in the shallow oceans of ancient Earth and ending
in the far reaches of outer space-where, Shaw proposes, insect-like
aliens may have achieved similar preeminence-Planet of the Bugs
spins a sweeping account of insects' evolution from humble
arthropod ancestors into the bugs we know and love (or fear and
hate) today. Leaving no stone unturned, Shaw explores how
evolutionary innovations such as small body size, wings,
metamorphosis, and parasitic behavior have enabled insects to
disperse widely, occupy increasingly narrow niches, and survive
global catastrophes in their rise to dominance. Through buggy tales
by turns bizarre and comical-from caddisflies that construct
portable houses or weave silken aquatic nets to trap floating
debris, to parasitic wasp larvae that develop in the blood of host
insects and, by storing waste products in their rear ends, are able
to postpone defecation until after they emerge-he not only unearths
how changes in our planet's geology, flora, and fauna contributed
to insects' success, but also how, in return, insects came to shape
terrestrial ecosystems and amplify biodiversity. Indeed, in his
visits to hyperdiverse rain forests to highlight the current insect
extinction crisis, Shaw reaffirms just how crucial these tiny
beings are to planetary health and human survival. In this age of
honeybee die-offs and bedbugs hitching rides in the spines of
library books, Planet of the Bugs charms with humor, affection, and
insight into the world's six-legged creatures, revealing an
essential importance that resonates across time and space.
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My review
Wed, 27 Jun 2018 | Review
by: Tanya K.
This is an interesting look at the evolution and rise of insects from the Cambrian to the present day. Professor Shaw details the roles that arthropods, and more specifically insects, have played in evolution and how these creatures affected the evolution of plants and other animal species. He takes a look at why oil was was only formed during the Carboniferous era? Why dinosaurs grew wings (to catch insects!)? Why insects don't live in the ocean? Why the age of fishes is a misnomer? I also found the author's "Buggy Universe Hypothesis" rather interesting.
The book is easy to read but makes extensive use of scientific insect terminology, so if that bothers you, this is not a book for you.
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