Description: 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.
Brief description: Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson is a professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences near Oslo and a scientific advisor to the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. She holds a doctorate in conservation biology and teaches nature management and forest ecology. The author of Extraordinary Insects, Anne is also an ultra-marathon runner.
Review Quotes: "Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson writes about insects with such enthusiasm and affection, you'll wish you were an entomologist! But it's never too late to develop a love for bugs, and Extraordinary Insects is the perfect guide-filled with surprising, fascinating, and often extremely funny stories."