Dance of the Dung Beetles

Author: Marcus Byrne
Publisher: Wits University Press
ISBN: 1776144651
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 266

Book Description
The sweeping scientific and social history of the humble dung beetle The humble and industrious dung beetle is a marvelous beast: the 6,000 species identified so far are intricately entwined with human history and scientific endeavor. These night-soil collectors of the planet have been worshipped as gods, worn as jewelry, and painted by artists. More practically, they saved Hawaii from ecological blight, and rescued Australia from plagues of flies. They fertilize soil, cleanse pastures, steer by the stars, and have a unique relationship with the African elephant (along with many other ungulates). Above all, they are the ideal subject for biological study in an evolving world. In this sweeping history of more than 3,000 years, beginning with Ancient Egypt, scientist Marcus Byrne and writer Helen Lunn capture the diversity of dung beetles and their unique behavior patterns. Dung beetles’ fortunes have followed the shifts from a world dominated by a religion that symbolically incorporated them into some of its key concepts of rebirth, to a world in which science has largely separated itself from religion and alchemy. With over 6,000 species found throughout the world, these unassuming but remarkable creatures are fundamental to some of humanity’s most cherished beliefs and have been ever present in religion, art, literature, science and the environment. They are at the center of current gene research, play an important role in keeping our planet healthy, and some nocturnal dung beetles have been found to navigate by the starry skies. Outlining the development of science from the point of view of the humble dung beetle is what makes this charming story of immense interest to general readers and entomologists alike.

Steve the Dung Beetle

Author: Susan Stoltz
Publisher: Lyric & Stone Publishing
ISBN: 9781733759885
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 32

Book Description
Fun book about a dung beetle named Steve who has to explain to all the animals why he likes poo so much and how important his job is to the environment.

Doug's Dung

Author: Jo Rooks
Publisher: American Psychological Association
ISBN: 1433834200
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 20

Book Description
An uplifting story of a determined dung beetle who finds his unique strength in creating beautiful things inspired by nature, flowers, friends, and the garden. Doug has trouble lifting heavy balls of dung. He just doesn’t feel as strong as the other dung beetles. When Doug feels down that he isn’t tough enough, a passing butterfly helps him see things in a different light and he realizes that strength comes in many forms.

The Encyclopedia of Land Invertebrate Behaviour

Author: Rod Preston-Mafham
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262161374
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 332

Book Description
Splendidly illustrated from nature, this encyclopedia describes with rigour and grace some of the most complex and bizarre behaviours in the animal world.

Animal Weapons

Author: Douglas J. Emlen
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0805094504
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 288

Book Description
Emlen takes us outside the lab and deep into the forests and jungles where he's been studying animal weapons in nature for years, to explain the processes behind the most intriguing and curious examples of extreme animal weapons. As singular and strange as some of the weapons we encounter on these pages are, we learn that similar factors set their evolution in motion. Emlen uses these patterns to draw parallels to the way we humans develop and employ our own weapons, and have since battle began.

Supernavigators

Author: David Barrie
Publisher: The Experiment
ISBN: 1615196692
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Book Description
“Just astonishing . . . Our natural navigational capacities are no match for those of the supernavigators in this eye-opening book.”—Frans de Waal, The New York Times Book Review Publisher's note: Supernavigators was published in the UK under the title Incredible Journeys. Animals plainly know where they’re going, but how they know has remained a stubborn mystery—until now. Supernavigators is a globe-trotting voyage of discovery alongside astounding animals of every stripe: dung beetles that steer by the Milky Way, box jellyfish that can see above the water (with a few of their twenty-four eyes), sea turtles that sense Earth’s magnetic field, and many more. David Barrie consults animal behaviorists and Nobel Prize–winning scientists to catch us up on the cutting edge of animal intelligence—revealing these wonders in a whole new light.

Wasps

Author: Eric R. Eaton
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691211426
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 256

Book Description
The ultimate visual journey into the beautiful and complex world of wasps Wasps are far more diverse than the familiar yellowjackets and hornets that harass picnickers and build nests under the eaves of our homes. These amazing, mostly solitary creatures thrive in nearly every habitat on Earth, and their influence on our lives is overwhelmingly beneficial. Wasps are agents of pest control in agriculture and gardens. They are subjects of study in medicine, engineering, and other important fields. Wasps pollinate flowers, engage in symbiotic relationships with other organisms, and create architectural masterpieces in the form of their nests. This richly illustrated book introduces you to some of the most spectacular members of the wasp realm, colorful in both appearance and lifestyle. From minute fairyflies to gargantuan tarantula hawks, wasps exploit almost every niche on the planet. So successful are they at survival that other organisms emulate their appearance and behavior. The sting is the least reason to respect wasps and, as you will see, no reason to loathe them, either. Written by a leading authority on these remarkable insects, Wasps reveals a world of staggering variety and endless fascination. Packed with more than 150 incredible color photos Includes a wealth of eye-popping infographics Provides comprehensive treatments of most wasp families Describes wasp species from all corners of the world Covers wasp evolution, ecology, physiology, diversity, and behavior Highlights the positive relationships wasps share with humans and the environment

Bug Music

Author: David Rothenberg
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 1250005213
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 290

Book Description
Analyzes the role of insects in teaching humans about music, tracing research into exotic insect markets and research labs while explaining how insect sound and movement patterns inspired traditions in rhythm, synchronization, and dance.

The Beetle Alphabet Book

Author: Jerry Pallotta
Publisher: Triangle Interactive, Inc.
ISBN: 168444716X
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 36

Book Description
Read Along or Enhanced eBook: Beetles from A to Z are crawling all over this book. From the Dung Beetle to the Kalahari Beetle, these critters live all over the world. Jerry Pallotta's twentieth alphabet book is brimming with facts and his signature humor.

Dance of the Dung Beetles

Author: Marcus Byrne
Publisher: Wits University Press
ISBN: 1776142349
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 266