Virtual Book Club - Buzz, Sting, Bite
Event Details
06:30PM - 08:30PM
Map address
In Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects, ecologist Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson gives an enthusiastic, witty, and informative introduction to the world of insects and why we—and the planet we inhabit—could not survive without them. Insects comprise roughly half of the animal kingdom. They live everywhere—deep inside caves, 18,000 feet high in the Himalayas, inside computers, in Yellowstone’s hot springs, and in the ears and nostrils of much larger creatures. There is more variety among insects than we can even imagine and the more you learn about insects, the more fascinating they become.
Most of us know that we would not have honey without honeybees, but without the pinhead-sized chocolate midge, cocoa flowers would not pollinate. No cocoa, no chocolate. The ink that was used to write the Declaration of Independence was derived from galls on oak trees, which are induced by a small wasp. The fruit fly was essential to medical and biological research experiments that resulted in six Nobel prizes. Blowfly larva can clean difficult wounds; flour beetle larva can digest plastic; several species of insects have been essential to the development of antibiotics. Insects turn dead plants and animals into soil. They pollinate flowers, including crops that we depend on. They provide food for other animals, such as birds and bats. They control organisms that are harmful to humans. Most of us think life would be better without bugs. In fact, life would be impossible without them.
A great book for alums who want to stay ahead of their insect-loving children or grandchildren.
Join us for a lively discussion and connect with other alums! Become a regular member or drop in as your schedule allows.
