Insects - Successful Models of Evolution: Fascinating and Threatened

By: Jürgen Tautz and Werner Gnatzy

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Synopsis: In the course of evolution, insects have developed an almost unbelievable variety of shapes and functional sophistication. The design of their exoskeleton is so imaginative and unusual, often even bizarre, that one can only marvel. The fact that insects can find design solutions for any problem, no matter how special, makes them extremely successful. They have thus become crucial links in the complex networks of nature. Impressive macro photographs and informative scanning electron-optical images provide an insight into the wealth of forms, beauty and function of the six-legged creatures. Fascinating texts accompany the pictures and explain, among other things, how the great diving beetle uses vertebrate hormones as knock-out drops when attacked by fish, the pine moth beetle locates distant forest fires, the bombardier beetle emits pulsed explosions with its firing apparatus or the blue butterfly caterpillar glamours ants. Insects play a crucial role in the ecosystems of our planet. Man-made environmental destruction is interfering with these cycles in a sensitive way. This endangers the survival of insects, with dramatic consequences for us humans as well.

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
ISBN-13:: 9783662710296
Related ISBNs:: 9783662710289
Publisher:: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Date of Addition:: 06/17/25
Copyrighted By:: The Editor
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Outdoors and Nature, Earth Sciences
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.