Dance of the Dung Beetles

158 pages. Temps de lecture estimé 1h58min.
The humble and industrious dung beetle is a marvellous creature: the 6 000 species identified so far are intricately entwined with human history and scientific endeavour. These night-soil collectors of the planet have been worshipped as gods, worn as jewellery, and painted by artists. Ecologically, they saved Hawai’i from environmental blight, and rescued Australia from plagues of flies. They fertilise 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. This entertaining outline of the development of science from the beetle’s perspective will enchant general readers and entomologists alike.Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter One When the dung beetle wore golden shoes Chapter Two Crawling out of the darkness Chapter Three Joining the dots Chapter Four Colonising insects Chapter Five Of elephants and dung beetles Chapter Six Tribes with human attributes Chapter Seven Design construction first Conclusion: ‘What a wonderful world’ Appendices Select bibliography Index